CONSISTENT to its initiative to recognize young and promising talents, the Philippine Sportswriters Association will again honor a pair of MILO Junior Athletes for men and women during its Feb. 13 Awards Night presented by San Miguel and MILO at the LE PAVILLON.
Karatedo’s Adam Bondoc and swimmer Kyla Soguilon are the 2016 recipients of the special award being given out by the country’s oldest media organization for the fourth straight time during the traditional gala night co-presented by CIGNAL/HYPER HD.
The recognition is being given to young outstanding athletes 18-years-old-and-below.
The 15-year-old Bondoc won numerous gold medals in various international tournaments last year, including the 1st International Indonesian Open Karatedo Championship held in Jakarta.
The 12-year-old Soguilon will be recognized with the same award for the third straight time following another fruitful campaign that saw her bag a total of 32 gold medals abroad and adjudged as the Most Outstanding Swimmer and the Most Bemedalled Athlete during the Palarong Pambansa in the province of Albay.
The award is given to ‘inspire excellence among the youth,’ according to MILO Sports Executives Andrew Neri and Robbie De Vera.
“Through the MILO Junior Athletes of the Year award, MILO and PSA jointly acknowledge the efforts our young athletes make as a way to motivate them to achieve greatness in both national and international leagues as the next generation of Filipino champions,” said Neri.
Bondoc and Soguilon are two of the 92 total awardees to be honored in the two-hour program being held in partnership with the Philippine Sports Commission, Phoenix Petroleum, Gold Toe, Foton, ICTSI, Globalport, Mighty Sports, Rain or Shine, and Smart.
On top of the honor roll list is Olympic silver medal winner Hidilyn Diaz, who is the unanimous choice as the 2016 Athlete of the Year by the PSA.
Young driver Milo Rivera is the recipient of the year’s President Award, while Asia’s first grandmaster Eugene Torre will be bestowed with a Lifetime Achievement Award during the event also supported by the Philippine Basketball Association, Federal Land, SM Prime Holdings Inc., Meralco, ACCEL, NLEX, MVP Sports Foundation, and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
Executive of the Year is Philip Ella Juico, president of the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association, which will be recognized with the National Sports Association (NSA) of the Year honor.
Major awards and citations are likewise to be handed out to top achievers in their respective sports.