Ateneo, SBC Get PSA Recognition

MANILA, Philippines - Other than the gold medalists in the 26th Southeast Asian Games, six other personalities have been deemed worthy of being given special citations by the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA).

Four-time UAAP men's basketball champion Ateneo Blue Eagles and back-to-back NCAA men's basketball titleholder San Beda Red Lions are likewise being cited for their quest for excellence a year ago that saw them emerged as two of the country's top collegiate cage powers.

Together with duathlete Lea Coline Langit, Grandmaster Julio Catalino Sadorra, and 6th ASEAN Para Games multiple gold medal winners Josephine Medina and Ernie Gawilan, the Eagles, Lions, and the 26th SEA Games gold medalists in Indonesia make up the list of citations to be handed out by the country's oldest media organization when it holds its much-awaited Annual Awards Night on March 3 at the Manila Hotel.

Leading the honor roll in the formal affair presented by Smart are boxing champion Nonito Donaire Jr. and world no. 1 billiards player Dennis Orcollo, who share the distinction as co-winners of the 2011 Athlete of the Year award.

Vice-President Jejomar Binay serves as the special guest speaker in the annual rite also presented by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Philippine Amusements, and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor), Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), SM Prime Holdings, Milo, ICTSI, Harbour Centre, and Coca-Cola.

DZSR Sports Radio 918 will air the event live.

Led by the sweet-shooting Kiefer Ravena, the Eagles beat the Far Eastern University Tamaraws to extend their reign in the UAAP to four.

Langit did the country proud by bagging the gold in the Asian Aquathlon event of the Mekong River Multi-Sports Festival in Thailand, while Sadorra became the country's latest Grandmaster when he earned his third and final GM norm in the 10th round of the UT Dallas Spring Invitational GM tournament in North Dallas, Texas.

Medina and Gawilan meanwhile, stood at the forefront of the country's campaign in the ASEA Para Games in Solo, Indonesia.

Gawilan won three golds in swimming, while Medina bagged four golds in table tennis as the two steered Team Philippines to a fifth place finish in the meet with a medal tally of 23-23-18.