A TEENAGE basketball player and a kid golfer will be the recipient of the Tony Siddayao awards during the San Miguel Corp.-Philippine Sportswriters Association
Annual Awards’ Night on Feb. 20 at the Alegria Lounge of the Manila Pavilion Hotel. Fil-Am Norberto Torres and junior golfer AR Ramos got the nod of the country’s oldest media organization as deserving winners of the award given to young and promising athletes, who excelled in their respective sports. The Antonio Siddayao award is named after the late Manila Standard sports editor considered the Dean of Philippine Sportswriting. The 6’7” Torres starred for the Nokia RP Youth team that swept the Seaba junior men’s championship in Kuala Lumpur, while Ramos, a former US Kids’ titlist, served as the saving grace of the Philippines’ campaign in the 29th Asia Pacific Junior Golf Championship. Torres and Ramos are part of the 60-plus awardees to be feted for their sterling performances in 2008. Heading the honor roll is Manny Pacquiao, the boxing sensation from General Santos City and who was unbeaten in all three fights last year, including a stunning eighth-round technical knockout win over ring icon Oscar de la Hoya. Eleven personalities, meanwhile, will be conferred with the major awards, among them are Kelly Williams (pro basketball), Willy Wang (wushu), Dennis Orcollo (billiards), Wesley So (chess), Nonito Donaire (pro boxing), Dottie Ardina, Jennifer Rosales, Dorothy Delasin and Angelo Que (golf), Jonathan Hernandez (horseracing) and Go Army and Ibarra (horseracing).
Also supporting the event are Villar Foundation, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Shakey’s, Accel, Philippine Basketball Association, Philippine Basketball League, National Capital Region Athletic Association, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, Purefoods, Ginebra, Alaska, Sta. Lucia, Rain or Shine, Ever Bilena, Harbour Centre, Liga Pilipinas, Environment Secretary Lito Atienza, Pharex, Games and Amusements Board and Mighty Sports Association.