EJ Obiena banners list of feted athletes in PSA Awards

Filipino Olympian and pole vaulter EJ Obiena will banner the long list of athletes to be recognized in the Philippine Sportswriters Association at the Diamond Hotel in Manila on Monday.

Obiena was named Athlete of the Year and will also be recognized for his gold medals in the Hangzhou Asian Games and the Cambodia Southeast Asian Games.

Gilas Pilipinas, which ended the 61-year gold medal drought in the Asian Games, will be given the President's Award, while the FIFA Women's World Cup delegates Philippine Women's Football team Filipinas will be given the Golden Lady Booters Special Award.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and the Jiu-jitsu Federation of the Philippines will be recognized as the National Sports Associations of the Year.

SMC President and CEO Ramon S. Ang and First Pacific Company Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan will be given the Executives of the Year award for their contribution to the country's hosting of the FIBA World Cup and the gold medal campaign of Gilas Pilipinas.

Asian Games gold medalists Meggie Ochoa and Annie Ramirez lead the Major Awards, while outstanding individuals in  June Mar Fajardo (Mr. Basketball), Tots Carlos (Ms. Volleyball), Sarina Bolden (Ms. Football), and Alex Eala (Ms. Tennis) will also be given special awards.

Asian Games and Southeast Asian Games gold medalists will also be cited, along with their counterparts in the Asian Para Games and ASEAN Para Games.

The late Samboy Lim will be awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award, along with Allan Caidic, Dante Silverio, Joe Lipa, and  Turo Valenzona.

—Justin Kenneth Carandang/JMB, GMA Integrated News