SASO INSPIRATION FOR PHL ATHLETES
PRO golfer Yuka Saso vowed to provide inspiration for Philippine sports amid the mounting challenges wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic that just doesn’t want to go away a year after the crisis struck worldwide. “Patuloy po akong magbibigay ng karangalan sa ating bansa. Mabuhay ang atletang Pilipino,” said the 19-year-old Saso in her short and entirely Filipino acceptance speech from Japan after being recognized as the 2020 Athlete of the Year on Saturday during the San Miguel Corp.-philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Awards Night at the TV5 Media Center.
Saso considered her second Athlete of the Year award in the last three years as a big honor for her and her family. She received the same award from the country’s oldest media organization— currently headed by Manila Bulletin sports editor Tito Talao—in 2018 when she shared centerstage with fellow 2018 Asian Games gold medalist golfers Bianca Pagdanganan and Lois Kaye Go, weightlifting champion Hidilyn Diaz and skateboarder Margilyn Didal.
“Maraming salamat sa Philippine Sportswriters Association sa pagbigay at pagkilala sa akin bilang Athlete of the Year ulit,” she added.
Saso currently campaigns in the rich Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour and is hoping to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. She is currently ranked No. 44 in the world.
Also sharing the limelight in the program presented by San Miguel Corp. and backed by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Cignal TV, were Philippine Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham“bambol”tolentino (President’s Award), Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner Willie Marcial (Executive of the Year) and the
Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (National Sports Association of the Year), with its president, Ricky Vargas, accepting the award.
The Lifetime Achievement Award were also bestowed on the late ambassador and basketball godfather Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, former PBA Commissioner and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Executive Director Renauld “Sonny” Barrios and former Project Gintong Alay Director Jose Romasanta.
PSC Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez was the special guest speaker of the first-ever virtual awards night in PSA history hosted by Gretchen Ho and
Paolo Del Rosario, with 1Pacman Partylist, Chooksto-go and Rain or Shine as major backers.
Ramirez lauded Filipino athletes for “keeping their stars shining even brighter in these dark times.”
Boxing great Senator Manny Pacquiao was also in the honor roll as the Chooks-to-go Fan Favorite “Manok ng Bayan,” together with the trio of Alex Eala, Johnriel Casimero and Pedro Taduran, who received Major Awards.
A total of 20 personalities and entities received citations, while a special recognition was given to athletes who served as frontliners during the pandemic.