An impressive cast of athletes consisting of an Asian Games boxing champion, a Southeast Asian Games triple gold medalist, a former Philippine Basketball Association Most Valuable Player and two homegrown golfers making waves abroad made the final list of awardees for the SCOOP Bacolod Awards for Outstanding Athletes.

Bacoleño Joan Tipon who used his ring savvy and precision punching to seize the bantamweight gold medal in the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, and Cauayan strongman Arniel Ferrera, who ruled the SEA Games hammer throw event for the third straight time in Thailand recently, join early choices Gerry Peñalosa and Donnie Nietes in the roster of awardees, SCOOP president George Liza announced yesterday.

Peñalosa of San Carlos, the World Boxing Organization junior bantamweight crown, and Murcia 's Nietes, the WBO minimumweight ruler, share the honor of Athletes of the Year for winning world titles this year.

The awarding rites, to be keynoted by former DAILY STAR sports editor and now Philippine sports commissioner Eric Loretizo, will be held at 3 p.m. on Dec. 29 at the Bascon Hotel.

Also making the honor roll are Escalante-born cager James Yap, the 2006 PBA MVP, who will be one of the awardees in professional basketball, along with ex-Negros Slasher and now Alaska player Reynel Hugnatan of Talisay City .

Juvic Pagunsan, a former caddie at the Bacolod Golf and Country Club, will also be awarded for his exploits in the Asian professional golf tour.

Sharing the limelight with Pagunsan is national pool member Mia Piccio, who made her presence felt in several tournaments in the United States .

Tennis sensation Jonicka Martina Guba is also set to receive an accolade for her impressive showing in national and international tournaments in the Asian 14-Under Tennis circuit.

The other awardees are La Carlota City's Sheena Atilano, who broke the 15-year-old 100m hurdles national record held by the illustrious Elma Muros, Asiad beach volley campaigner Rhovyl Verayo of Pulupandan, former Olympic swimmer Juan Carlo Piccio, and age-group standout Krestia Angela Lacson.

University of St. La Salle and West Negros College will also be awarded for their success in the school sports leagues, while Education Training and Center School and Domingo Lacson National High School softball team will also be extolled for their consistent performance in the Asia-Pacific softball World Series participation.

SCOOP will also hand out presidential citations to sports organization for conducting events aimed at developing their respective disciplines in the province.

The outstanding groups are Gun Club of Negros Occidental, Negros Occidental Volleyball Association, Negros Amateur Boxing Association, Negros Taekwondo Union, the Lopue's Table Tennis Association and the Basketball Unified Sports Group.

Another awardee is businessman Ricky Yanson, who will be honored for his support to local football.*SCOOP-Bacolod

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