Ramon S. Ang (tipping cap) and Manny V. Pangilinan watch a Gilas Pilipinas recreation through the World Cup. —AUGUST DELA CRUZ
Homeowners of two of the nation’s largest conglomerates who’re each enamored with sports activities basically and basketball particularly, Ramon S. Ang and Manny V. Pangilinan can have a uncommon second on stage later this month when the Philippine Sportswriters Affiliation honors them with the Executives of the Yr award for keying an important basketball second within the yr that handed.
The tycoons will likely be feted by the nation’s oldest media group on Jan. 29 at Manila Lodge within the San Miguel Company-Philippine Sportswriters Affiliation (SMC-PSA) Annual Awards Night time after they got here collectively at a essential second that led to the Philippines reclaiming the Asian Video games (Asiad) cage gold the nation chased for greater than six many years.
Ang is the CEO of San Miguel Corp., whereas Pangilinan heads First Pacific and the duo’s rivalry in basketball is rooted even in school with their alma maters. In addition they personal three groups every within the Philippine Basketball Affiliation (PBA).
However one second final yr had them working carefully to kind a Gilas Pilipinas crew that turned again large odds in Hangzhou, China, final October because the Philippines, for the primary time since 1962, is the king of basketball within the area.
The perfect of the very best in Philippine sports activities in 2023 will likely be feted in a celebration introduced by ArenaPlus, the main sports activities leisure within the Philippines, and main sponsors Philippine Sports activities Fee, Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO and PLDT/Good.
Pole vaulter EJ Obiena, on whom many really feel rests the most important probability of the Philippines in profitable gold within the Paris 2024 Olympics, has been named Athlete of the Yr.
Additionally backing the occasion are PBA, Rain or Shine, 1-Pacman get together record of Rep. Mikee Romero, and Premier Volleyball League.
Their first gig
The Ang-Pangilinan partnership really began within the nation’s profitable cohosting of the Worldwide Basketball Federation (Fiba) World Cup, the place the SMC group got here on board as main accomplice of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas—of which Pangilinan is chairman emeritus—to assist defray the staggering price of staging the occasion being held within the Philippines for the primary time in 45 years.
However their largest collaboration occurred through the nineteenth Asian Video games at a time when Gilas Pilipinas misplaced the core of its Fiba World Cup staff, together with head coach Chot Reyes.
With barely three weeks left earlier than departing for Hangzhou, the 2 big companies held a landmark assembly on the final minute and mapped out the plan of action it can take for the nation’s Asiad marketing campaign.
Tim Cone was elevated from deputy to move coach of the Philippine staff, whereas gamers from each the SMC and MVP franchises had been made out there for inclusion to the Gilas Pilipinas roster.
Given up for lifeless, the swiftly assembled unit of Cone got here again from the grave and pulled off a miraculous 77-76 comeback win within the semifinals towards host and defending champion China behind the heroic effort of Justin Brownlee, whose two inconceivable three pointers within the remaining 23 seconds lifted the Filipinos to the dramatic victory.
Gilas later took care of enterprise towards Jordan within the gold medal play, 80-70, to ignite a celebration of a whole nation that treats the sports activities as a faith.
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By the way, each Ang and Pangilinan had been earlier winners of the award, with Pangilinan honored in 2014 Ang 4 years later. INQ