MANILA, Jan.8 (PNA)–World Boxing champion Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao will receive the highest accolade bestowed by the Philippine Sportswriters’ Association’s (PSA) awards night on February 20 at the Manila Pavilion.
PSA president Aldrin Cardona has announced Wednesday that officers of the country’s oldest sportswriting fraternity will confer on Pacquiao the Athlete of the Year and Hall of Famer awards for being the only Asian boxer to have won four world titles.
The Athlete of the Year award will be Pacquiao’s fifth; his first four being in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006, excluding the Bayani ng Lahi and the PSA President’s awards.
So dominating was Pacquiao’s achievements that the whole world cheered for him, particularly when he beat Golden Boy Oscar dela Hoya which put him well ahead of the other contenders.
The other candidates include teenage Super Grandmaster Wesley So, US-based lady golfers Jennifer Rosales and Dorothy Delasin, Dottie Ardina, Angelo Que, cue artist Dennis Orcullo, basketball player Kelly Williams and another world boxing champion, Nonito Donaire.
Other outstanding athletes who received multi-PSA athlete of the year plums include bowler Olivia “Bong” Coo with four, former Asia’s sprint queen Lydia de Vega-Mercado, Rafael “Paeng” Nepomuceno, boxer Luisito Espinosa and 9-ball billiards king Efren “Bata” Reyes with three each.
Fifty additional awards will be distributed by the PSA, including eight major awards, 27 citations, two Antonio”Tony” Siddayao recipients and 13 posthumous recognition. (PNA)
