SAC-SMB honors noted Cebuano athletes today

All eyes will be on who among the Cebuano or Cebu-based athletes will be given the prestigious accolade of “Athlete of Year” as the 31st Sportswriters Association of Cebu (SAC)-San Miguel Brewery, Inc. (SMB) Cebu Sports Awards honors today those who have excelled in their respective sports last year at the North Wing Atrium of SM City Cebu.

The Athlete of the Year will be chosen from those receiving major awards and candidates range from a boxing champion, a taekwondo world champion and Cebu’s latest chess grandmaster.

This afternoon’s special awardees will be led by the Cebu Football Association (CFA) as the Sportsman of the Year while its president, Pericles “Ricky” Dakay, will be accorded the honor of being the Presidential awardee.

“Ricky Dakay has led the CFA, one of the most active organizations in Cebu. He has popularized football and help bring the Azkals,” said SAC president John Pages on why he has chosen Dakay as the Presidential Award recipient.

Through the efforts of CFA, Cebu joins Manila and Bacolod as the only three venues in the Philippines that can host an international football match.

Aside from Dakay, CFA also has Rico Navarro as vice president, Michael Veloso as treasurer, Alberto “Joey” Herrera as general secretary while committee heads are Rodney Orale, Glenn Quisido, Nimrod Quinones, Raffy Musni, and Heinz Kuiueke.

The CFA organized the first-ever international match at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) last Nov. 15 that saw the Philippine Azkals edge the Singapore Lions, 1-0, in a friendly.

Special guests will be Philippine Football Federation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta, who will be making a surprise announcement, and Philippine Azkals manager Dan Palami.

The Dancesport Team Cebu City will also show off their award winning performance with two numbers in the intermission while the Cebu Taekwondo Team will also do a number along with taekwondo major awardee Mikeala Calamba.

Aside from the awards, the new officers of SAC will also be inducted by Cebu City Sports Commission chairman Edward Hayco.