MANILA — The top performers in Philippine sports in the year about to end will be honored by the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) as it holds its traditional Awards Night on Jan. 29 at the Diamond Hotel.

Asian Games gold medal winners EJ Obiena, Meggie Ochoa, Annie Ramirez, and Gilas Pilipinas lead the long list of achievers to be recognized by the country’s oldest media organization headed by its president Nelson Beltran, sports editor of the Philippine Star.

All four and the Filipinas football team are vying for the prestigious Athlete of the Year award.

Obiena’s golden record in pole vault, the two-pronged triumph of Ochoa and Ramirez in jiu-jitsu, and Gilas’ epic march to reclaim basketball supremacy in Asia spearheaded the country’s four golds, two silvers, and 12 bronzes finish (17th overall) in the 19th edition of the Asiad in Hangzhou, China, in the Philippines’ highest placing yet in the quadrennial showcase since finishing 14th in Hiroshima, Japan 29 years ago.

The Filipinas on the other hand, made history following their debut in the FIFA Women’s World Cup in New Zealand, in a campaign that became even more memorable following the team’s stunning 1-0 victory over the host country through the breakthrough goal of Sarina Bolden.

In a year like no other in Philippine sports history, the Asiad and Southeast Asian Games – along with their Para Games counterparts – were both held in a single calendar year following the adjustments in the hosting of the four major meets owing to the pandemic, guaranteeing a star-studded Awards Night two months from now.

The country’s top two sports officials in Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Richard Bachmann and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham Tolentino are expected to grace the formal affair and lead the local sports community in honoring the best and brightest of the year 2023.

Aside from the Athlete of the Year, other awards will also be handed out by sports editors and writers from different broadsheets, tabloids, and online sites that comprised the PSA membership.

The Lifetime Achievement Award, Executive of the Year, President’s Award, National Sports Association (NSA) of the Year, Mr. Basketball, Ms. Volleyball, Ms. Football, and the Tony Siddayao Awards are among the yearly honors.

Major Awards and citations to athletes, officials, and entities who excelled in their respective sports are likewise going to be recognized.

(ai/mnm)

ANNIE Ramirez has delivered the Philippines’ third gold medal in the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, marking a resurgence in the country’s campaign.

Jiu-jitsu has breathed new life into their performance at the 19th edition of the continental event.

In a remarkable victory, Ramirez clinched the Philippines’ third gold medal and their second in the field of jiu-jitsu by dominating the women’s -57kg category at the Xiaoshan Linpu Gymnasium on Friday, October 6. Ramirez displayed an unbeaten streak throughout the competition, culminating in a 2-0 win over Kazakhstan’s Galina Duvanova in the final.

Having previously earned three Southeast Asian Games titles, Ramirez made her way to the final by defeating tough opponents such as Vietnam’s Le Thi Thuong, Singapore’s Fiona Toh, and the UAE’s Shamsa Alameri.

Ramirez’ triumph followed a day after her fellow jiu-jitsu standout, Meggie Ochoa, secured the second gold medal for the Philippines in Hangzhou. This achievement also came on the heels of pole vaulter EJ Obiena’s historic gold medal win on Saturday, September 30.

Thus far, jiu-jitsu has been a significant contributor to the Philippines’ medal count at the Asian Games, accounting for three medals in total. Kaila Napolis also made her mark by adding a bronze medal in the women’s -52kg category.

Napolis, who is celebrated for winning the Philippines’ first gold in the previous Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in May, secured the bronze with a 4-2 victory over the UAE’s Hessa Alshamsi. (ai/mnm)