PANGUNGUNAHAN nina boxer Nesthy Petecio at weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz ang 12 tatanggap ng major awards sa annual SMC-PSA (Philippine Sportswriters Association) Awards Night sa Marso 6 sa Centennial Hall ng Manila Hotel.
Ipiprisinta ng Philippine Sports Commission, MILO, Cignal TV, Philippine Basketball Association, Rain or Shine, at Air Asia, sina Petecio at Diaz ay miyembro rin ng Team Philippines na tatanggap ng pinamataas na karangalan bilang Athlte of the Year, bunga ng overall championship finish sa nakaraang 30th SEA Games.
Si Petecio, 27, ay wagi ng featherweight gold sa AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships sa Ulan-Ude, Russia, habang ang 29 anyos na si Diaz, silver medal winner noong 2016 Rio Olympics, ay nagbulsa ng silver sa Asian Championships at dalawang bronze sa World Weightlifting Championships.
Ang iba pang kasama sa major awards ay sina: pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena, ang unang Pinoy na nag-qualify sa Tokyo Olympics; boxing champions Jerwin Ancajas (IBF super-flyweight) at WBO bantam king Johnriel Casimero.
Gayundin ang undefeated, sixth-time UAAP women’s champion National University team, 5-time PBA Philippine Cup winner San Miguel Beer at si five-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo sa basketball; golfers Juvic Pagunsan, Aidric Chan, at Princess Superal, Horse of the Year Union Bell.
Nakatakda pang piliin ang recipients ng special citation, MILO Junior Athletes of the Year, Tony Siddayao awardees at Chooks-To-Go Fan Favorite Award. (VT ROMANO)
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