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Team Philippines at SEA Games adjudged PSA’s ‘Athletes of the Year’

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/sports/03/06/20191211-sea-games-closing-ceremonies-cd-09211.jpg"/><figcaption>Filipino athletes march during the SEA Games closing ceremonies at the athletics stadium in Clark on December 11, 2019. Czar Dancel, ABS-CBN News/file</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines—For producing a record-breaking performance and giving their countrymen something to be proud of for two weeks in December, the Philippine contingent to the 2019 Southeast Asian Games will receive the Athlete of the Year award at the Philippine Sportswriters Association at Manila Hotel on Friday.Bannered by world gymnastics champion Carlos Yulo, women&#x27;s boxing champion Nesthy Petecio, and Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz, Team Philippines takes the top honor handed out annually by local sports scribes.Top sports officials, led by Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez, Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino, and IOC representative Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski join the PSA honoring the SEA Games squad.Efren &quot;Bata&quot; Reyes, a special guest speaker at the event, will be given the Lifetime Achievement Award.Filipino athletes hauled a record 149 gold, 117 silver, and 121 bronze medals to claim the SEA Games overall title for the second time in 42 years participating in the biennial event.Meanwhile, citations will be given to all SEA Games gold medal winners, who make up the bulk of the nearly 200 awardees.Yulo, the first Filipino and male gymnast from Southeast Asia to win gold in the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, will also receive the President&#x27;s Award while Ramirez will take home the Executive of the Year plaque after serving as the chef-de-mission in the SEA Games.The Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines, the sport&#x27;s national governing body, will be announced the National Sports Association of the Year.Special awards will also be handed to Thirdy Ravena and Jack Animam as Mr. and Ms. Basketball, Bryan Bagunas and Sisi Rondina as Mr. and Ms. Volleyball, Bianca Pagdanganan as Ms. Golf, Stephan Schrock as Mr. Football, and a first Coach of the Year honors to women&#x27;s basketball tactician Patrick Aquino.A separate MILO Junior Athlete of the Year citation will be given to the quartet of Alex Eala, Daniela Dela Pisa, Miguel Barreto and Daniel Quizon, while the national men&#x27;s 3x3 basketball team will be recognized with the Chooks-To-Go Fan Favorite award.Diaz and Petecio banner the list of major awardees that also include 2020 Tokyo Olympics bound pole vaulter EJ Obiena, world boxing champions Jerwin Ancajas and Johnriel Casimero, five-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo, five-time PBA all-Filipino champion San Miguel Beer, six-time UAAP champion NU Lady Bulldogs; and golfers Juvic Pagunsan, Princess Superal, and Aidric Chan, and Horse of the Year Union Bell.Swimmers Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh and Marc Bryant Dula join Eala and six others as recipient of the Tony Siddayao awards, which is given to young and promising athletes 17-years-old and younger.Dearly departed athletes, officials, and friends of the PSA will be remembered with a prayer and a minute of silence.<div>For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com" target="_blank">ABS-CBN Sports</a> website</div>

After the national contingent's record-breaking performance at the 2019 SEA Games, there was no doubt that Team Philippines deserved the award.

After the national contingent's record-breaking performance at the 2019 SEA Games, there was no doubt that Team Philippines deserved the award.