Longtime sports patron and SMC head honcho, Ramon S. Ang believes the country is geared to win more golds in the coming Paris Olympics as he paid tribute to all Filipino athletes, particularly those who were honored during the recent Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Awards.
Ang, San Miguel Corporation (SMC) President and Chief Executive Officer, received his second PSA Executive of the Year award and this time, he shared it with Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) Chairman and President Manny V. Pangilinan as their partnership paved the way for the Asiad basketball gold.
He said the upcoming OIympiad will mark the 100th year of Philippines’ participation as the country looks to replicate the feat of gold-winning weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz in the Tokyo Games.
Ang was very excited and proud of what Diaz did winning the country’s first gold. Ang attributed MVP’s role with Diaz’s hard work and effort of not just the players and coaching staff In addition, the Gilas Pilipinas program was also been discussed and is acknwoledged as MVP’s brainchild, and without his vision commitment, and patriotism to see the program through all these years, we probably would not have a champion Gilas team, Ang shared.
At the invitation of Pangilinan, Ang supported the country’s successful co-hosting of the FIBA Basketball World Cup, when Philippine team shared the spotlight with the world’s best basketball teams.
Olympian and pole vaulter EJ Obiena led those who were feted during the annual awards conducted by the country’s oldest sportswriting organization.
Also honored were Philippine Women’s Football team Filipinas, Asian Games gold medalists Meggie Ochoa and Annie Ramirez June Mar Fajardo (Mr. Basketball), Tots Carlos (Ms. Volleyball), Sarina Bolden (Ms. Football), and Alex Eala (Ms. Tennis).
To honor the country’s Olympic medal winners in Tokyo, Ang provided P22 million in incentives, including P10 million to weightlifter Diaz. Boxers Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio also got P5 million each for winning silver medals while Eumir Marcial earned P2 million for his bronze medal feat.
