Philippine Sports News and Updates

SPORTS CAN SERVE AS A UNIFYING force in the face of the current political turmoil.

This was stressed by Sen. Manny Villar before athletes and sports officials during last night’s Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Awards Night at the Mall of Asia.

Villar called for the entire sports community to take a common stand and help regain the dignity Filipinos athletes once had.

“Filipino athletes are beginning to lose their dignity and self-esteem,” said Villar, the Senate president who is reportedly eyeing the presidential race in 2010.

“Sports is one of the factors that could bring back the confidence and morale of the athletes as well as the people in these troubled times,” he added.

Villar pointed to PSA co-athletes of the year boxer Nonito Donaire Jr. and swimmer Miguel Molina as worthy examples who could lead the Philippines back on top as when it won the overall championship in the Southeast Asian Games two years ago.

“The situation in sports is similar to the problems that have been plaguing the country. We not only lack the resources and the money, some of our sports leaders are not sport,” said Villar.

Although he did not eleborate, it was obvious Villar was referring to the the current political unrest sparked by Jun Lozada’s recent testimony on the controversial ZTE broadband deal.

After his brief speech and the awarding of Donaire and Molina, Villar left in a huff while the ceremonies took a break to give way to the fireworks display outside the SM Mall of Asia Entertainment Center.

Also present during the PSA Awards were Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr., sports commissioners Eric Loretizo and Ritchie Garcia and fencing chief and former POC head Cito Dayrit.

Aside from Donaire and Molina, other major awardees were Frankie Miñoza (golf), Ronnie Alcano (billiards), Wesley So (chess), Mark Caguioa (professional basketball), Victor Espiritu (cycling), Patti Dilema (horseracing) and ES Twenty Six (horseracing).

Manny Pacquiao, acknowledged as the best pound for pound boxer in the world, was feted with the PSA President’s Award. Pacquiao failed to attend the ceremonies as he was deep in training in the US for a March 15 rematch against Juan Manuel Marquez.

SPORTS CAN SERVE AS A UNIFYING force in the face of the current political turmoil.

This was stressed by Sen. Manny Villar before athletes and sports officials during last night’s Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Awards Night at the Mall of Asia.

Villar called for the entire sports community to take a common stand and help regain the dignity Filipinos athletes once had.

“Filipino athletes are beginning to lose their dignity and self-esteem,” said Villar, the Senate president who is reportedly eyeing the presidential race in 2010.

“Sports is one of the factors that could bring back the confidence and morale of the athletes as well as the people in these troubled times,” he added.

Villar pointed to PSA co-athletes of the year boxer Nonito Donaire Jr. and swimmer Miguel Molina as worthy examples who could lead the Philippines back on top as when it won the overall championship in the Southeast Asian Games two years ago.

“The situation in sports is similar to the problems that have been plaguing the country. We not only lack the resources and the money, some of our sports leaders are not sport,” said Villar.

Although he did not eleborate, it was obvious Villar was referring to the the current political unrest sparked by Jun Lozada’s recent testimony on the controversial ZTE broadband deal.

After his brief speech and the awarding of Donaire and Molina, Villar left in a huff while the ceremonies took a break to give way to the fireworks display outside the SM Mall of Asia Entertainment Center.

Also present during the PSA Awards were Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr., sports commissioners Eric Loretizo and Ritchie Garcia and fencing chief and former POC head Cito Dayrit.

Aside from Donaire and Molina, other major awardees were Frankie Miñoza (golf), Ronnie Alcano (billiards), Wesley So (chess), Mark Caguioa (professional basketball), Victor Espiritu (cycling), Patti Dilema (horseracing) and ES Twenty Six (horseracing).

Manny Pacquiao, acknowledged as the best pound for pound boxer in the world, was feted with the PSA President’s Award. Pacquiao failed to attend the ceremonies as he was deep in training in the US for a March 15 rematch against Juan Manuel Marquez.