
By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Bacolodnon cuemaster Johann Chua will be among the awardees at the San Miguel Corporation-Philippine Sportswriters Association (SMC-PSA) Awards Night slated next week at the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel.
Chua was recognized for his achievements last year, including his gold medal finish in the Hanoi Open 9-Ball Championship, and was also a key part of Team Asia beating Team Europe for the inaugural Reyes Cup.
Aside from Chua, also receiving awards are Albert James “AJ” Manas (billiards), Karl Eldrew Yulo (gymnastics), Ruelle Canino (chess), Kheith Rhynne Cruz (table tennis), Marc Dylan Custodio (bowling), Mark John Lexer Galedo (cycling), Lovely Inan (weightlifting), the Philippine baseball team, Centennial 7 (sailing), Jessa Mae Tabuan (powerlifting), and Ramon “Tats” Suzara (volleyball).
The NCAA is being recognized by the country’s oldest media organization for reaching a great milestone of celebrating its 100th season as one of the country’s cradle of sporting heroes.
The Filipino paddlers had a dominant performance in the ICF Dragon Boat World Championship in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, where they emerged overall champions; while the Philippine Volcanoes scored a twin kill in the men’s and women’s division of the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Trophy in Nepal.
Colonia bagged gold medals in the snatch and total lift in the 45-kilogram class of the International Weightlifting Federation World Junior Championships in Spain; Butler did the same in the 18-under -57-kilogram class of the JJIF World Championships in Heraklion Greece; and Ramirez, along with Tabuan, also went home with gold medals in their respective campaigns in the World Open Equipped Powerlifting Championships in Iceland and World Juniors Powerlifting Championships in Malta./ASC, WDJ