THE gold medal winners in the Asian Youth Games and its Para Games counterpart, a former deputy speaker now making waves in the sport of polo, and a firm that has been a major backer of Philippine sports are among those to be feted at the San Miguel Corporation-Philippine Sportswriters Association 2025 Awards Night on Monday at the Diamond Hotel Manila.
Asian track prince PI Durden Wangkay and three-gold Para athlete Ric Daniel Pasadilla join former congressman Mikee Romero and ArenaPlus as recipients of special awards from the country's oldest media organization in the Feb. 16 proceedings.
Also being recognized with the same honor in the celebration co-presented by the Philippine Sports Commission and ArenaPlus are Asian Youth and Asian Para Youth Games gold winners Kram Airam Carpio, Charlie Ratcliff, Lyre Anie Ngina, Zeth Gabriel Bueno, Jan Brix Ramiscal, Tyron Jamborillo, Isabella Joseline Butler, RJ Brucal, John Rey Diano, Raemond Adefuin, and Mary Hannah Brianna Diesto.
Breakthrough Southeast Asian Games gold winners Philippine women’s football team and Alas Pilipinas women’s beach volleyball team, together with Alas Pilipinas men’s team, BPI/Globe, Fil-Am Golf Invitational, JR Quinahan, and the Philippine Basketball Association complete the list of special awards and citations in the program backed by major supporters Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, Cignal, Premier Volleyball League, Philippine Basketball Association, Akari, Rain or Shine, Capital1 Solar Energy, and Acrocity.
Wangkay ruled the century dash of the third edition of the multi-sport event among teenage athletes held in Manama, Bahrain, to lead a best-ever, seven-gold-medal romp for the Philippines.
Romero, also owner of former PBA franchise Globalport/Northport, broke barriers by climbing to the top international rankings of the sport of polo, where he’s the highest-ranked player from Southeast Asia.
The 53-year-old businessman-sportsman competed in prestigious tournaments such as the US Open Polo Championship behind his team GlobalPort-Passion For Polo.
ArenaPlus, for its part, has been a long-time supporter of Philippine sports through its generous sponsorships of major sports events such as last year’s International Series Philippines won by Miguel Tabuena, professional leagues, international tournaments, and Filipino athletes led by its ambassador, Olympic double gold medalists Carlos Yulo.
For their groundbreaking golden feat in the SEA Games, the women’s beach volleyball team of Bernadeth Pons, Sisi Rondina, DJ Rodriguez, and Sunny Villapando will also be cited along with first time gold winner Filipinas football team.