9 athletes, 1 coach named to PHL Sports Hall of Fame

TEN men and women who made the country proud and honored make up the fourth batch of enshrinees to the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame (PSHOF).

The PSHOF Selection Committee confirmed on Friday the enshrinement of Paulino Alcantara (football), Eric Buhain (swimming), Dionisio Calvo (coach for basketball and football), Arianne Cerdena (bowling), Robert Jaworski (basketball), Gertrudes Lozada (swimming), Elma Muros-posadas (athletics), Rogelio Onofre (athletics), Leopoldo Serrantes (boxing) and Roel Velasco (boxing).

The induction ceremony is set on April 30 at a still to be determined venue.

The PSHOF is mandated by Republic Act 8757, otherwise known as the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame Act. Induction to the Hall of Fame is done every two years.

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William Ramirez heads this year’s selection committee with Philippine Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham Tolentino as vice chairperson.

The members are Games and Amusement Board Chairman Abraham Mitra, Philippine Football Federation Secretary-general Atty. Ed Gastanes Philcycling Secretarygeneral Atty. Billy Sumagui (national sports association representatives), Philippine Olympians Association President Akiko Guevara and University Athletic Association of the Philippines Executive Director Atty. Rene Andrei Saguisag Jr. as private group representatives.

“I would like to thank everyone for all their work. It is very enriching for me to be part of this awards,” Ramirez said. “I am pleased with the choices of both the review and selection committees. Congratulations to all the fourth batch enshrinees!”

Tolentino appreciated the work of the both committees and thanked them “Let this recognition of our sports heroes as an inspiration to all,” Tolentino said.

The enshrinees will each receive a PSHOF trophy and P200,000, double the amount given to the members of the first three batches.

The review committee was composed of Ed Andaya (People’s Tonight), Joe Antonio (People’s Journal), Rey Bancod (Tempo),

Dodo Catacutan (Spin.ph), Quinito Henson (Philippine Star), Tessa Jazmines (Larc&asset PR), Jun Lomibao and Tito Talao