Tabal is SAC Athlete of the Year

This year’s SAC-SMB awardees pose for posterity at the Robinsons Galleria Cebu. (CDN PHOTO/Christian Maningo)

Cebuana marathon sensation Mary Joy Tabal was named Athlete of the Year in the 34th Sportswriters Association of Cebu-San Miguel Brewery, Inc. (SAC-SMB) awards held at Robsinons Galleria Cebu, yesterday.

The 26-year-old runner, who also received a major award in Athletics, earned a place in the record books as she won her third straight title in the National Milo Marathon Finals, joining Arsenia Saragay and Christabel Martes with multiple titles.

As a result of winning her third Milo Marathon national title last December, Tabal received an all-expense paid trip to the recent 2016 Boston Marathon, where she ranked 21st among 50 elite runners worldwide.

Meanwhile, Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) manager Ricky Ballesteros was accorded the Sportsman of the Year award for his unmatched acumen in organizing sports and cultural events while Japanese booter Momoko Shimoda garnered the ORLACSAN award.

Major awards were also given to June Mar Fajardo (basketball), 2015 Athlete of the Year Donnie Nietes (boxing), Jerish John Velarde and Richard Bitoon (chess), Lloyd Jefferson Go and Charles Hong (golf), Daniela Reggie de la Pisa (gymnastics), Kiyomi Watanabe (judo), Rafael Vidal (karatedo), Ken Caniga (Muay Thai), Raven Faith Alcoseba (swimming), Rinna Babanto (taekwondo) and Justin Liam Chiongbian (triathlon/duathlon).

“You are the sports heroes of Cebu sports,” outgoing SAC president Rico Navarro extolled the awardees in his speech.

Special citations were also given to athletes in 32 different sports events.

Meanwhile, Sun.Star sports editor Mike Limpag was elected the new president of SAC. He succeeds Navarro.

This year’s awarding was sponsored by the San Miguel Brewery, Inc. and Robinsons Galleria Cebu.