By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Former sports commissioner and Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas President Monico Puentevella headlines the list of distinguished personalities set to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award in the San Miguel Corporation – Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) 2025 Awards Night at the Diamond Hotel Manila on February 16.
Puentevella joins four other honorees — the 1991 Philippine Davis Cup team, the Elorde boxing family, veteran basketball official Romeo “Romy” Guevara, and Woman National Master Milagros “Mila” Emperado — in being recognized for their lasting contributions to Philippine sports.
Now 79, Puentevella served as commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission from 1996 to 2001 before assuming leadership of the national weightlifting federation.
Under his stewardship, the Philippines captured its first-ever Olympic gold medal through Hidilyn Diaz at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
A De La Salle alumnus, Puentevella also had a long career in public service as mayor and congressman of Bacolod City, and was inducted into the International Weightlifting Federation Hall of Fame in 2022.
The awardees will be honored by the country’s oldest media organization led by PSA President Francis TJ Ochoa, sports editor of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, during the formal gala night co-presented by the Philippine Sports Commission.
The 1991 Philippine Davis Cup squad, bannered by Felix Barrientos, Roland So and Camoy Palahang, earned recognition for its historic run to the World Group qualifier after victories over Japan and China.
The team eventually fell to Sweden in its bid to reach World Group level.
The Elorde family continues the boxing legacy of Hall of Famer Gabriel “Flash” Elorde, promoting fight cards nationwide for decades and helping develop future world champions and contenders.
Guevara, 89 years old, is regarded as one of the country’s foremost basketball officiating authorities, having worked in major leagues including the MICAA, UAAP, NCAA, PABL, and PBA.
He also shared his expertise internationally in countries such as Qatar, Bahrain, Taiwan, Thailand, and Malaysia.
A pioneer in women’s chess, Emperado represented the Philippines in the 1976 Chess Olympiad in Haifa, Israel.
After retiring from competition, she founded the Milo Checkmate Chess Clinic, which helped produce several Filipino grandmasters, including Wesley So.
Heading the PSA’s 2025 honor roll are Olympic double gold medalist Carlos Yulo and tennis standout Alexandra Eala, who will be named Male and Female Athletes of the Year./ASC, WDJ