No contest: PSA elevates Pacquiao to Hall of Fame

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao will be elevated to the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Hall of Fame after earning his fifth Athlete of the Year (AOY) award. The PSA, the country’s oldest media organization, chose Pacquiao as 2008’s top athlete after winning and fighting thrice in different weight classes last year. Victories against Juan Manuel Marquez, David Diaz, and the legendary Oscar De La Hoya last year cemented Pacquiao’s status as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. The four-time world champion will now join in the PSA Hall of Fame the likes of bowlers Paeng Nepomuceno and Bong Coo, basketball greats Caloy Loyzaga and Lauro Mumar, pro boxers Pancho Villa and Gabriel "Flash" Elorde, amateur boxer Mansueto “Onyok" Velasco, track stars Lydia De Vega and Mona Sulaiman, swimmer Teofilo Yldefonso, tennis player Felicisimo Ampon, Asia’s first Grandmaster Eugene Torre, and golfers Ben Arda and Celestino Tugot. Pacquiao will receive the honor during the PSA Annual Awards Night on Feb. 20, Friday, at the Alegria Lounge of the Manila Pavilion Hotel, where other personalities will also be recognized for their contribution to Philippine sports. This will be Pacquiao’s fifth PSA AOY award after earning the honor from 2002 to 2004 and in 2006. "Manny Pacquiao has all the mark of a great athlete that while he’s still active fighting, he already deserves to be a Hall of Famer," said PSA president and Daily Tribune sports editor Aldrin Cardona. Women’s World Cup champions Jennifer Rosales and Dorothy Delasin, young chess sensation Wesley So, wushu artist Willy Wang, boxer Nonito Donaire, and golfers Angelo Que and Dottie Ardina were the other athletes considered for the AOY honor. – GMANews.TV