Wednesday, February 18, 2009

SAC-SMC PICKS PACMAN

Sun Star Cebu Newspaper (www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu)
February 18, 2009 Wednesday issue
Pooled Report
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Boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao frontlines the star-studded list of honorees who will be feted in tonight’s 27th Sportswriters Association of Cebu-San Miguel Corp. (SAC-SMC) All-Cebu Sports Awards at the Casiño Español.
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The gala affair spotlighting the best and brightest sports stars of Cebu in 2008 will start at 7 p.m., Bacolod City Rep. and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) chairman Monico O. Puentevella is the guest of honor.
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Pacquiao, hailed as one of the all-time boxing greats, will be given a Lifetime Achievement Award for his legendary exploits in the squared arena. The General Santos City fighter engraved his name in history books for becoming one of the very few ring gladiators to win three fights in different weight divisions in one year.
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Pacquiao retained his WBC super featherweight title with a split decision victory over Juan Manuel Marquez in their controversial rematch. He went on to snatch David Diaz’s WBC lighweight crown via brutal ninth round knockout and then leapfrogged two weight categories to deal Oscar de la Hoya the most embarrassing defeat of his career in a welterweight mismatch.
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Underdog
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Pacquiao headed into the battlefield as a heavy underdog, but the Filipino punching dynamo again wielded the element of surprise he is best known for as he beat De la Hoya to pulp, forcing the battered and badly bruised “Golden Boy” to wave the white flag of surrender before the start of the ninth round.
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Pacquiao will be joined in the podium by football organizer Jonathan “Maxi” Maximo, wushu philantrophist Francis Onglatco, and Fr. Vicente “Vic” L. Uy, SVD, the first Philippine Sports Commissioner (PSC) from Cebu.
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Maximo will receive the coveted “Sportsman of the Year” plum, Onglatco will be handed out with the ORLACSAN (Orlando C. Sanchez) Memorial Award, while Fr. Uy is the choice of Sportswriters Association of Cebu (SAC) prexy John Pages as the “Presidential Awardee.”
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Maximo, Onglatco, and Fr. Uy will be commended for their invaluable contributions to the development of Cebu sports in their own unique ways.
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Awardees
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Also set to be honored for their outstanding performances in their respective athletic endeavors during the past year are Leizl Lumindas-Gitaruelas (athletics), Gregory Slaugher and M. Lhuillier Kwarta-Cebu Niños (basketball), Janelle Tabio and Floria Gutierrez (beach volley), Kimberly Lao (bowling), Donnie Nietes and Gerry Peñalosa (pro boxing), Joseph Sanchez and Kim Steven Yap (chess), Annabelle and Joel Madera (dancesport), Don Bosco Technology Center (football), Irina Gabasa, (golf), Tracy Badonio (gymnastics), Alford Marimon (judo), Juan Antonio Carcel (karting), Vince Marc Tabotabo (lawn tennis), Teodoro Martus (scrabble) Cris Panes (shooting), Loren Dale Echavez (swimming), Michael Motel (table tennis), and Kelly Kaye Rojas (weightlifting).
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As major awardees, they are all contenders for the prestigious “Athlete of the Year” commendation.
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Paralympian Arnold Balais will be elevated into the SAC Hall of Fame for his consistent achievements.
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Those who will receive special citiations are Lindley Fran Navaja (athletics) Doce Pares of Grandmasters Dionisio “Dionnie” Cañete and Ciriaco “Noy Cacoy” Cañete (arnis), Jusabelle Brillo (beach volley), Jomar Jumapao (bowling), Milan Milendo (pro boxing), Charlea Lagaras (dancesport), Gio Gandiongco (golf), Sidney Metante (karatedo), Paco Rodriguez (karting), Sally Mae Siso (lawn tennis), Seigfred Ornopia and Jon-Jon Adlawan (motocross), Yaw-Yan Cebu ArDigma Martial Arts Federation Inc. of Master Benigno “Ekin” R. Caniga, Jr. and Universal reality Combat Challenge (URCC) of Renault Lao (mixed martial arts), Angelic Lado (weightlifting), Luis Ansag (wrestling), Rachel Ng, Jack Huang (for support given to SAC projects), and Vicente Fernandez III (judo). (Pooled Report)

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