Negros Occidental athletes were urged to aspire for greater heights and glory not just for themselves but for the country, their fellow Filipinos and Negrenses by Commissioner Eric Loretizo of the Philippine Sports Commission during the 2007 SCOOP-Bacolod Sports Awards, where he was the keynote speaker.

He also encouraged the athletes to be an inspiration to other people especially to their younger counterparts who will follow their footsteps.

PSC Commissioner Ritchie Garcia also committed his support to the athletes from Negros Occidental.

He exhorted the officers and members of SCOOP-Bacolod to make the Sports Awards a yearly event, and said the PSC will be there to extend its help to the organization.

He added that outstanding athletes need to be recognized and he is proud to see so many talents from the province.

Meanwhile, Games and Amusement Board commissioner Juan Ramon Guanzon said his office also needs the help of the PSC adding that with Garcia and Loretizo in the commission, support will pour in for local athletes and sports organizations.

Among those recognized by SCOOP-Bacolod are boxing champions Joan Tipon, Gerry Peñalosa, Donnie Nietes and Mitchell Martinez, golfers Juvic Pagunan and Mia Piccio, athletics standout Arniel Ferrera, Sheena Atilano and Julius Sermona, swimmers Kristia Angela Lacson and Juan Carlo Piccio, Judo standout John Baylon and Vince Soberano, beach volleyball player Rhovyl Verayo, chess champ Rolando Andador, and professional basketball players James Yap and Reynel Hugnatan.

Recognized posthumously was football player Dave Fegidero.

In his acceptance speech, Ferrera, gold medalist in hammer throw in the recent Thailand Southeast Asian Games, said he will conduct free clinics to aspiring athletes as his way of supporting and inspiring local talents.

The organization also paid tribute to various sports organizations in the province among them: Gun Club of Negros Occidental, Lopue's Table Tennis Association, ETCS-DLNHS Bacolod-Negros Softball Team, Negros Billiard Stable, Negros Taekwondo Union, West Negros College ;

University of St. La Salle, Negros Basketball Association, Basketball Unified Sports Group, NOPSSCEA, Riverside College, Negros Occidental Volleyball Association, Negros Occidental Cultural Sports Foundation and Negros Occidental Football Association.

Meanwhile, SCOOP-Bacolod president George Liza said the Sports Awards recognizes the best and brightest among the local sports standouts and the organizations that help promote sports development in the province.

He said that the organization of local sports communicators in Bacolod will be there to exist to complement the effort in developing sports from the grassroots to the international arena.*NAB

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More champions, talents from grassroots
Aim higher, athletes told