Melo Villareal
The sports scene has definitely bounced back as the country’s leading industry players were feted once more at the recent 5th Philippine Sports Tourism Awards (PSTA) held at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga.
Organized by the Philippine Sports Tourism Alliance and Cebu-based Selrahco Management and Consultancy Services, the awards are given to stakeholders for their efforts in sustaining sports tourism events despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 in 2020-21.
The awardees include groups, corporations, and government entities that kept the flame of sports alive during the pandemic years.
Topping the honorees is the Philippine Basketball Association’s Philippine Cup as Tournament of the Year for organizing the so-called PBA Bubble in 2020, which was held in Angeles City under strict health and safety protocols.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) was hailed National Sports Association of the Year for its effort to hold domestic and international basketball tournaments through the bubble management scheme. This allowed the staging of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers in Clark last 2021.
Named as Hotel of the Year was Quest Plus Conference Center, Clark which housed the players and support groups of the PBA and the FIBA during the sports bubble tourneys.
Meanwhile, Clark Freeport won again as Destination of the Year for hosting several multisports events, bringing in thousands of local and foreign athletes.
Moreover, Cebu Pacific Air as the Airline of the Year for being the official carrier of the Filipino contingent to Tokyo Olympics and the Paralympic Games in 2021. The low-cost carrier gifted the 19 Olympians and 6 Paralympians with complimentary flights at the quadrennial games. As part of its 25th anniversary, the airline has provided the 25 athletes with 25 free flights.
“We will not let this opportunity pass without honoring the men and women who have worked hard to keep sports tourism alive during the pandemic. Without a doubt, there are many more we would like to recognize but 2020 and 2021 were challenging years,” said PSTA founder and chairman Charles Lim.
He also announced the opening of nominations for the 6th edition of the Awards in 14 categories which will run until March 31. Details are available at the Philippine Sports Tourism Awards official Facebook page and nomination forms can be downloaded by scanning its QR code.
In photo at the PSTA awarding ceremonies are (from left) Department of Tourism Central Luzon regional director Caroline Uy, Quest Plus Hotel Clark general manager Michael Gapin, Clark Development Corporation (CDC) president and CEO Atty. Agnes VST Devanadera, PBA commissioner Willie Marcial, Bases Conversion and Development Authority vice president Arrey Perez, Cebu Pacific corporate social responsibility specialist Roxanne Gochuico, and PSTA chairman Charles Lim.
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