PSA to honor top sports achievers

ALL gold medalists in the 2011 Southeast Asian Games ( SEAG) will be given special citations during the Philippine Sportswriters Association ( PSA) Annual Awards Night scheduled on March 3 at the Manila Hotel.

Leading the 36 gold winners are double gold medalists Irish Ranola of billiards, Francisco Alquiros of bridge, SEAG long jump record- holder Marestella Torres of athletics, and bowler Frederick Ong, the most bemedalled Filipino athlete with five highlighted by his winning performance in the men’s singles.

The Philippine placed sixth overall in the SEAG held in Indonesia with a total of 166 medals including 55 silvers and 75 bronzes.

Joining the gold medalists are pool king Dennis Orcollo and boxing champion Nonito Donaire Jr. who will be recognized as the 2011 Athletes of the Year.

Torres bagged the PSA Co- Athlete of the Year plum in 2009 when she won gold anew in the same event in the Asian Championships.

No less than Vice- President Jejomar Binay will be gracing the event where the top sports achievers of 2011 would be honored.

PSA president Rey Bancod of Tempo said the body is still deliberating on the other recipients of major awards in the different sports

Also to be bestowed during the event are the Presidential Achievement Award, Executive of the Year, National Sports Association ( NSA) of the Year, Tony Siddayao awards, and other various citations.