Philippines, 04 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Pacquiao heads contenders for PSA top award


PhilBoxing.com


(MANILA) FROM Manny Pacquiao, Ronnie Alcano to Leo Oracion, just about everybody who made 2006 a bumper crop for Philippine sport stand as a strong contender for Athlete of the Year honor.

The three, along with eight others, are the frontrunners for the top award to be handed out by the Philippine Sportswriters Association in its Annual Awards next month. Pacquiao, a three-time Athlete of the Year winner, is again in contention for the award along with Alcano and fellow cue artist Efren `Bata’ Reyes, bowler Biboy Rivera, Oracion and fellow Mt. Everest conquerors Pastor Emata and Romy Garduche, and Doha Asian Games gold medalists Antonio Gabica, Joan Tipon, Violito Payla and Rene Catalan.

Last year, Team Philippines was the recipient of the PSA’s highest award after emerging as overall champion for the first time ever in the Southeast Asian Games. “This is the first time in a long while that a long list of contenders is vying for the Athlete of the Year award. It’s a clear proof that Philippine sports is very much alive,” said PSA president Jimmy Cantor.

The 28-year-old Pacquiao, feted as Athlete of the Year from 2002-04, won all his three fights this the year, including two sensational knockout victories over legendary Mexican warrior Eric Morales in a trilogy that has the trimmings of a classic.
Alcano’s bid is bolstered by his inspiring triumph in the World Pool Championship held in the country for the first time last month.

Given up for dead after losing his first two matches in the group stages, the 34-year-old cue artist from Calamba, Laguna, made it to the knockout stage at the last minute and went on a roll, beating seeded players along the way and capping his Cinderella story with an 17-11 upset of former champion Ralf Souquet in the final.

Reyes was among those whom Alcano defeated on the way to his World Pool title run, but the 51-year–old billiards all-of-Famer is making a strong case for himself on account of his spectacular victories in the inaugural World Cup of Pool in South Wales, the San Miguel Asian 9-Ball Tour and the IPT World 8-Ball Championship in Las Vegas.

In winning the 8-ball title at the expense of American Rodney Morris, Reyes won $500,000, easily the biggest ever prize purse in the history of the sport. Reyes was the recipient of the Athlete of the Year award in 1999 and 2001.

Rivera is the latest bowler to contend for the award following his scintillating triumph in the World Men’s Bowling Championship in Busan, South Korea. The 32-year old Santo Tomas Tourism graduate delivered under pressure by scoring a perfect game to clinch the Masters crown over Achim Grabowsky of Germany 3-2.

It was the third perfect game registered during the meet, but only the 13th in the annals of the tournament formerly known as the FIQ. Not to be outdone are the quartet of Gabica, Payla, Tipon and Catalan.

Their combined four gold medal haul in the recent Doha Asiad helped the country surpass its output in Busan four years ago and produced the best showing by the Filipinos in the quadrennial meet in the last 28 years.

Gabica provided the first RP gold in Qatar by beating Jeff `Bata’ de Luna 11-7 in an all-Filipino 9-ball final.

Boxers Payla and Tipon followed suit, hacking out impressive victories against a former world champion from Thailand and a rising pug from Korea in the gold medal matches. Payla, 27, hammered out a 31-15 victory over Thai Somjit Jongjohor in the men’s flyweight class, while Tipon made short work of Han Soon Chui 21-10 in the bantamweight division for a fitting follow-up to his conquest of Athens Olympics silver medalist Worapoj Petchkoom of Thailand in the semifinals. Catalan bagged a first gold for wushu by blanking Vietnamese Phan Quoc Vinh 2-0 in the men’s sanshou 52-kilogram final.

And then, there were the mountain climbers. One after the other, Oracion, Emata and Garduche made the country proud in a two-day stretch last May, becoming the first three Filipinos ever to reach the summit of Mt. Everest.



Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • The Second Rise of Jesse Espinas
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • Boxing Golden Age Comparison - Philippines and Japan
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • Kittipong, Magdalena, Kim, Kritiphak Claim Wins in Brico Santig's Show in Bangkok
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • Kremlev, Crawford, Fury Launch IBA's Golden Era of International Boxing
    , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • International Master Angelo Young stays on course for GM norm
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • Robby Gonzales and Yoseline Perez Progress to Semifinals at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • Fireworks Ahead: Magsayo vs Mata in Prelims of Pacquiao vs Barrios
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 03 Jul 2025
  • Japan's Boxing Golden Age Remains Limited to the Lower Weights
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 03 Jul 2025
  • No issues with fight ref
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 03 Jul 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: Grand Muay Thai event in Verona
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Thu, 03 Jul 2025
  • Morelle McCane and Rene Camacho Advance to Quarterfinals of World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Thu, 03 Jul 2025
  • 3 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Marco Antonio Barrera Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
    , Thu, 03 Jul 2025
  • ESPN Original Series The Fight Life Returns for Season Two on July 7
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • TOP-RATED LIGHTWEIGHT KO ARTIST ARMANDO MARTINEZ RABI RETURNS
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • Amazing Muay Thai WBC Festival 2025
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • Borromeo Leads Winners of the Philippine Speedcubing Championships
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • What If Pacquiao Defeats Barrios?
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • Team USA Earns Three Wins on Day Two of World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • Women's Boxing Champion Signs with Combate Global, Still Aims For WBC Absolute Gold
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • Sanman Boxing Presents Hard-Hitting Prospect Abubakar Yanon Set to Challenge for Philippine Boxing Federation Flyweight Title in Malungon, Sarangani Province
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • Boxing Returns to Tropicana Atlantic City, July 25
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 30 June 2025: Zurdo Outpoints Dorticos, Keeps WBA/WBO Cruiser Titles; Mbilli Stops Sulecki in 1; Wins by Kuroki, Wilder and Jake Paul
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • IIEE Titans secured Finals in BPBL, IIEE Chessmasters retain on top level in Bundesliga
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • MARIO BARRIOS LAS VEGAS MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
    , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • CATTERALL AND EUBANK LAY THEIR 'CARDS ON THE TABLE' AHEAD OF MANCHESTER SHOWDOWN
    , Tue, 01 Jul 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.