Amit repeats as best athlete in SAC-SMB Cebu Sports Awards

(File Photo by Josh Albelda/Rappler)

CEBU, Philippines – Double World Champion Cebuana pool player, Rubilen Amit, was honored as the Athlete of the Year for the second time in the 32nd edition of the Sportswriters Association of Cebu (SAC)-San Miguel Brewery, Inc. (SMB) Cebu Sports Awards at the Activity Center of Ayala Mall Cebu on Wednesday, March 26.

Amit recently won two world titles in 2013, the Women’s Ten Ball World title and the Mixed Doubles World title with living legend Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes, and a gold medal in the Southeast Asian (SEA) games, which led her to loom in the field of Cebu athletes.

Amit, when she first won the World 10 Ball title, was also chosen as Athlete of the Year during the 28thstaging of the event.

Aside from being the first female World Pool Champion, she was also the first athlete who became a recipient of the same major award in the history of SAC-SMB Cebu Sports Awards.

Aside from Amit, Frank Gatdula also received the Orlacsan Award for his contribution to cycling, and taekwondo coach Glenn Lava received the Presidential Award for helping Cebu win two world titles in taekwondo.

(SAC Awardees pose for a photo op. Photo by: Mary Jane Catriz)

Here is the list of the Cebuano athletes who received major awards:

Athletics – Julius Nierras

Basketball – Andres Paul Desiderio, Arnie Christian Padilla and June Mar Fajardo

Billiards – Rubilen Amit

Bowling – Kim Lao

Boxing – Donnie Nietes, Johnriel Casimero and Merlito Sabillo

Dance Sport – Pearl Caneda and Wilbert Aunzo

Football – Don Bosco Technology Center and PAREF Springdale School

Golf – Cebu Country Club

Judo – Kiyomi Sarausad Watanabe

Running – Mary Grace de los Santos and Mary Joy Tabal

Sepak Takraw – Rhey Jay Ortouste

Taekwondo – Glenn Lava, Mikaela Calamba and Rinna Babanto

Tennis – Arthur Craig Pantino, Jan Godfrey Seno and Johnny Arcilla

Triathlon – Joseph Miller, Justin Liam Chiongbian and Fredric Albert Yuan Chiongbian

Meanwhile, Veteran sports analyst Quinito Henson praised the awardees in the Cebu sports field and said they deserve not only recognition in Cebu but nationwide.

“Athletes of the Cebu are world class. I feel the entire country should be aware of how good Cebu athletes are,” he said.

SAC, is an independent organization which consists of sports columnists, writers and editors in Cebu, is called “The Oscars” of Cebu sports, who gathered all the Cebuano best athletes in the whole world, and honor the year’s top sports performers. 

(This article was also published at rappler.com, to visit, click this: http://www.rappler.com/sports/philippines/54070-rubilen-amit-repeats-athlete-of-the-year-sac-smb-cebu-sports-awards)

10 Visayans heading to Jr. NBA Philippines 2014 training camp

(Jr. NBA Finalists from Cebu Regional Selection Camp from left to right: Andre Dadivas, Donn Lim, Andrew Velasco, Wayne Kirby Besaluna, Steven Co, Jomari Ranuco and Jethro Rocamora. Photo by jr. NBA PR/Rappler)

MANDAUE CITY, Philippines - Out of 61 junior basketball player tryouts of Cebu Regional Selection Camp (CRSC) of Jr. NBA/WNBA Philippines finalists, only 5 Cebuanos, 3 Cebuanas and 2 Bacoleños made it to National Training Camp (NTC), it was announced on Tuesday, March 24 at the Ateneo de Cebu in Canduman, Mandaue City, Cebu.

The seven boys, who came from Cebu and Bacolod, include: Wayne Besaluña, Andrew Velasco and Steven Co of Ateneo de Cebu; Jomari Ranuco of the University of San Carlos; Jethro Rocamora of the First Christian Baptist School in Cebu; Andre Dadivas of University of St. La Salle in Bacolod and Donn Lim of St. John Institute, Bacolod.

(L-R: Mary Jean Pascual, Lyniel Padilla, Ma. Kassandra Bayking -- Jr. WNBA Finalists from Cebu Regional Selection Camp. Photo by: Jr.NBA PR)

While the girls, who will be the pioneering batch of Jr. WNBA players from Cebu are: Mary Jean Pascual of the University of Southwestern Philippines; Ma. Kassandra Bayking of Abellana National High School in Cebu; and Lymiel Padilla of Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu. (READ: Jr. NBA tips off for 7th year, expands program to females)

The Cebu finalists, who were evaluated by the Jr. NBA/WNBA committee headed by Jr. NBA coach and Basketball Operations of NBA Asia Specialist, Chris Sumner, and Jojo Lastimosa of the Alaska Power Camp, will represent Central Visayas at the NTC on April 25-27, at the Philippine International Convention Center and the SM Mall of Asia.

The 10 chosen rookie players were among the 1,152 kids who registered in Cebu for the camp this year, which set a program record for most participants registered in the Jr. NBA/WNBA since it was started in 2007.

The players were tabbed for their all-around basketball skills, and utilized the Jr. NBA’s gist – S.T.A.R., play off the values of Sportsmanship, Teamwork, (a positive) Attitude and Respect.

“We looked at how the players worked with their teammates, their skills and fundamentals. We also looked out for a positive attitude. Like, if they lose the ball, how did they react? If they went right back on defense, that’s a positive attitude. This was a very competitive group, very energetic. We have some pretty skilled players here,” said Coach Chris Sumner.

There are three more regional selection camps on track after Cebu, in Dagupan on March 29-30 at the Stadia, Puerto Princesa on April 5-6 at the Puerto Princesa Sports Complex, and Manila at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) Forum.

Jr. NBA/WNBA Philippines presented by Alaska, was organized by the NBA with Gatorade and Phoenix Petroleum as official partners. 

(This article was also published at rappler.com, to visit the site, click this: http://www.rappler.com/sports/by-sport/basketball/53805-10-visayans-jr-nba-philippines-training-camp)