CEBU BOXING KEEPS ON PUNCHING AT 32nd SAC-SMB CEBU SPORTS AWARDS (PHOTOS)
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 27 Mar 2014
CEBU CITY - The Cebu Sports Awards would not be complete without the sight of champion boxers mingling with student athletes, ball players, runners and martial artists. Last year, two of the boxing gyms in this city held the distinction of being the home base of the three Filipino world champions.
These three world titlist, along with ten other boxers, were among those honored Wednesday afternoon at the Activity Center of the Ayala Mall.
The major awardees were Donnie Nietes and Merlito Sabillo of the ALA Gym and JohnRiel Casimero of the Omega Gym.
It was a bittersweet moment for Sabillo, who lost his WBO minimumweight title in Mexico three days ago. But his award remains an acknowledgement of his feats in 2013 ? winning the title on the road against Luis dela Rosa in Colombia, and two defenses at home against Colombian Jorle Estrada and Nicaraguan Carlos Buitrago.
Philboxing's Dong Secuya (L) congratulates Donnie Nietes as Dr Rene Bonsubre Jr (2nd from left) and SAC President Rico Navarro (R) look on during Wednesday's SAC awards.
L-R: Sun.Star's Edri Aznar, Philboxing's Rene Bonsubre Jr, Johnreil Casimero and Rico Navarro.
L-R: Sun.Star's Jingo Quijano, Rene Bonsubre Jr, Dong Secuya, Merlito Sabillo and Rico Navarro.
Arthur Villanueva (L) shakes hands with Rico Navarro.
L-R: Bonsubre, Servania and Navarro.
Rey Padigos (C) receives the award on behalf of his cousin Bruno Escalante. At left is Dong Secuya and at right is Rico Navarro.
Bruno Escalante acceptance speech:
Photos by Mary Jane Catriz.
Nietes retained his WBO light flyweight crown twice at home, a draw against Moises Fuentes and a TKO win against Sammy Gutierrez. Casimero also defended his IBF light flyweight title twice last year against Luis Alberto Rios in Panama and a home defense against Felipe Salguero.
Receiving citations were Bruno Escalante, the IBA super flyweight champion, who is based in California, Genesis Servania (ALA Gym) ? WBO Intercontinental super bantamweight title, Jason Pagara (ALA Gym) - WBO International jr.welterweight champion, Arthur Villanueva (ALA) ? OPBF superflyweight/WBO International superflywieght, Jimrex Jaca (ALA) ? WBO Oriental jr.welterweight title, Vergilio Silvano (Omega gym) ? WBO Oriental lt.flyweight title, Marlon Tapales (RWS) ? WBO Asia-Pacific bantamweight title, Milan Melindo (ALA) ? WBO International flyweight title and two amateur boxers Hipolito Banal and Jeffrey Estella - two members of Team Mandaue who captured two gold medals during last year's ABAP National Boxing Championships in Maasin City.
THE DEAN AS GUEST OF HONOR
Joaquin ?Quinito? Henson, one of giants of sports writing and broadcasting in the country was the guest of honor during the event. He gave words of advice and encouragement to the athletes and cited pillars of sports for athletes to live by.
He spoke about Sabillo?s first career loss and said that Manny Paqcuiao endured a loss early in his career while Sabillo suffered his first loss when he was already champion; f Pacquiao managed to come back stronger then there was no reason why Sabillo will not rise from this defeat.
Quinito also shared his memorable moments as a sportswriter when he talked about his encounters with Michael Jordan, Manny Pacquiao, Freddie Roach, Oscar Robertson, Erik Spoelstra, just to name a few.
The 'Dean' of Philippine sports Quinito Henson is the guest speaker during the 32nd edition of SAC awards.
L-R: Rubilen Amit's uncle Hermes Sumalinog, Sportsman of the Year Tony del Prado and SAC President Rico Navarro.
SEXY AND DANGEROUS: Cebu Taekwondo awardees (L-R): Veronica Garces, Mikaela Calamba (last year's Athlete of the Year and this year's major awardee), Maegan Bugarin, Nicole Maurin and Rinna Babanto.
SAC awardees pose for a group photo.
BILLIARDS QUEEN AMIT IS CEBU?S ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
2013 World Women?s 10 Ball champion Rubilen Amit repeated as ATHLETE OF THE YEAR. She previously won the award in the 28th staging of the Sportswriters Association of Cebu (SAC)- San Miguel Beer (SMB) awards.
These awards are the Oscar?s of Cebu sports and are given to Cebu born or Cebu based athletes who have excelled at the national and international level.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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