MEMBERS of Team Philippines who won gold medals in the 26th Southeast Asian Games will be the recipients of  special citations from the Philippine Sportswriters ssociation (PSA) when it holds its Annual Awards Night on March 3 at the Manila Hotel.

Double gold medalists Irish Ranola of billiards and revelation Francisco Alquiros of bridge lead the 36 Filipino athletes who topped their respective events during the biennial meet held in the capital city of Jakarta, and the provinces of Palembang and West Java.

Other notable gold medal winners include Maristella Torres, who broke the meet record in the women’s long jump, and bowler Frederick Ong, the most bemedalled among the Filipino delegation with five, including the gold in men’s singles.

The 512-strong PH contingent also grabbed 55 silver and 75 bronze medals to finish in sixth place in the two-week long event last November.

All 36 gold medalists share centerstage when the sportswriting fraternity bestows on pool king Dennis Orcollo and boxing champion Nonito Donaire Jr. the  2011 Athletes of the Year award.

Incidentally, Torres herself was PSA co-Athlete of the Year in 2009 when she won the gold in the same event during the Asian Championships.

No less than Vice-President Jejomar Binay will be gracing the two-hour long event, presented by Smart, Milo, SM Prime Holdings, ICTSI, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), Harbour Centre, Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), and Coca-Cola, where the top achievers of 2011 will be honored.

The long-time Makati City mayor serves as guest of honor and speaker during the yearly awards rite held by the country’s oldest media organization composed of editors and sportswriters of national broadsheets and tabloids.

Still being deliberated are other recipients of major awards in different sports, according to PSA president Rey Bancod of Tempo.

Also to be bestowed are the Presidential Achievement Award, Executive of the Year, National Sports Association (NSA) of the Year, Tony Siddayao awards, and other citations.