40th SAC-SMB Cebu Sports Awards
| 40th SAC–SMB Annual Awards | |
|---|---|
| Date | March 8, 2026 |
| Location | Ayala Center Cebu, Cebu City |
| Country | Philippines |
The 40th SAC–SMB Cebu Sports Awards was an annual awarding ceremony organized by the Sportswriters Association of Cebu (SAC) in partnership with San Miguel Brewery (SMB), recognizing Cebu’s top athletes, coaches, and teams who achieved outstanding success in 2025.
The event was held on March 8, 2026 at the Ayala Center Cebu Activity Center in Cebu City, coinciding with the awards’ 40th anniversary since its inaugural staging, with 88 sports personalities and groups cited for their excellence and impact in various national and international competitions, including the 2025 Southeast Asian Games.[1][2]
Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Patrick Gregorio, who previously worked as General Manager of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino and chairman of the Cebu Visitors and Convention Bureau before taking leadership posts in Philippine sports, was served as the guest speaker.[3]
The Sportswriters Association of Cebu, currently headed by John Pages of Sun.Star Cebu is an affliate member of the Philippine Sportswriters Association and it is composed of Cebu-based sportswriters from newspapers and online news sites.
Honor roll
Main awardees
| Award | Winner | Sport/Team/Recognition | References\ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athlete of the Year | Elreen Ando | Weightlifting Gold Medalist, Women's 63 kg, 2025 Southeast Asian Games |
[2][4] |
| Rico Navarro Sportsman of the Year | Lorenzo "Chao" Sy | Basketball and Boxing Commissioner, Cebu City Sports Commission, Former Team Manager of La Fortuna Basketball Team and Boxing Promoter and Owner, Chao Sy Boxing Stable |
[5] |
| President's Award | Augusto Go | School sports Founder, University of Cebu and President, Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. | |
| ORLACSAN Award (named after former The Freeman and SunStar Cebu sports editor Orlando C. Sanchez) | J. R. Quiñahan | Basketball Typhoon Kalmaegi (Tino) survivor and rescuer |
[6] |
| Elmer Tuburan | Basketball Typhoon Kalmaegi (Tino) survivor and rescuer | ||
| Christian Jay Abarquez | Taekwondo Typhoon Kalmaegi (Tino) survivor and rescuer |
Major awardees
A total of 43 athletes and 5 teams from 26 sports will be given the Major Awards, while some of them are nominated for the coveted Athlete of the Year honors.[7]
| Winner | Sport |
|---|---|
| Raven Alcoseba | Triathlon |
| Rubilen Amit | Billiards |
| Elreen Ando | Weightlifting |
| Ann Antolihao | Softball |
| Jerome Bacarisas | Softball |
| Jay Bryan Baricuatro | Boxing |
| Lloyd Bartolini | Dancesport |
| Angelica Bengtsson | Floorball |
| Jasper Cabrera | Softball |
| Felix Calipusan, Jr | Karate |
| Fritz Gerald Carsola | Sepak takraw |
| Cebu F.C. | Football |
| Aeden Roffer Cereno | Taekwondo |
| Margielyn Didal | Skateboarding |
| June Mar Fajardo | Basketball |
| Mark Ashley Fajardo | Boxing |
| Clarissa Louise Gallego | Taekwondo |
| Richard Gonzales | Table tennis |
| Eleanor Hayco | Dancesport |
| Matthew Hermosa | Triathlon |
| Jeff Leonard Hortelano | Ultimate frisbee |
| Melvin Jerusalem | Boxing |
| Janah Jade Lavador | Kickboxing |
| Eliecha Zoe Malilay | Ju-jitsu |
| Ellise Xoe Malilay | Ju-jitsu |
| Rico Mascariñas | Chess |
| Jonathan "Titing" Manalili | Basketball |
| Melvin Alm Mendoza | Floorball |
| Jeremy Laurence Nopre | Karate |
| Jose Martin Omayan | Taekwondo |
| Arthur Craig Pantino | Tennis |
| Philippines national esports team (Sibol Women's MLBB) | Esports |
| Mallie Ramirez | Football |
| Kim Remolino | Triathlon |
| Miranda Renner | Swimming |
| Sisi Rondina | Beach volleyball |
| Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles | Basketball (CESAFI) |
| Jean Marie Sucalit | Sepak takraw |
| Eljay Dan Tormis | Table tennis |
| Artjoy Torregosa | Athletics |
| Raph Trinidad | Wakeboarding |
| Kelly Alexandrei Trocio | Karate |
| University of Cebu Webmasters | Table tennis (CESAFI) |
| University of the Visayas Green Lancers | Basketball (CESAFI) |
| Jerish John Velarde | Chess |
| Alexis Nicole Villacarlos | Karate |
| Christwil Villanueva | Motocross |
| Franklin Ferdie Yee | Duathlon |
Special citations
31 sports personalities and collegiate teams who won the championship titles in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) will receive special citations from the SAC.[8][9]
| Winner | Sport |
|---|---|
| Marlon Aliño | Dancesport |
| Christian Araneta | Boxing |
| Christian Balunan | Boxing |
| Christopher Bureros | Weightlifting (Coach) |
| Nickson Andwele Cabañero | Baseball |
| Aaron Ray Cañete | Basketball (Referee) |
| Joph Cleopas | Basketball(Coach) |
| Oliver Colina | Football (Coach) |
| Gary Cortes | Basketball (Coach) |
| Lucy Hamilton | Dancesport |
| Arvin Loberanis | Athletics (Coach) |
| Mark Mahinay | Athletics |
| Juancho Miguel Masecampo | Shooting |
| Everett Pete Niere | Tennis |
| Rodex Piala | Boxing |
| Glenn Ramos | Football (Coach) |
| Rommel Rasmo | Basketball (Coach) |
| Roland Remolino | Triathlon (Coach) |
| Allison Kyle Quiroga | Karate |
| Rhodee Saavedra | Karate (Coach) |
| Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles | Basketball (CESAFI) |
| Arlando Senoc | Boxing |
| Ramon Solis | Weightlifting (Coach) |
| Lord Garnette Talisic | Scrabble |
| Claudwin Seven Toñacao | Tennis |
| Toledo Xignex Trojans | Chess |
| University of Cebu Webmasters | Volleyball (CESAFI) |
| University of San Carlos Lady Warriors | Volleyball (CESAFI) |
| University of San Jose–Recoletos Lady Jaguars | Volleyball (CESAFI) |
| University of the Visayas Green Lancers | Basketball (CESAFI) |
| Juvels Velos | Tennis |
Posthumous Awards
These awards will be given to Cebuano sports personalities who died in 2025.[2]
- Eduardo Gullas (Basketball)
- Julian Macoy (Basketball)
- Jun Noel (Basketball)
- Fritz Tabura (Tennis)
See also
References
- ^ Rosal, Glendale (February 8, 2026). "Four decades strong: SAC–SMB Cebu Sports Awards turns 40€". Cebu Daily News. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
- ^ a b c Pages, John (March 1, 2026). "Pages: Cebu Sports Awards". Sunstar Cebu. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
- ^ "PSC chair Pato Gregorio named guest of honor at SAC Awards". The Manila Times. February 26, 2026. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
- ^ Rosal, Glendale (March 9, 2026). "Olympian Elreen Ando named Athlete of the Year in SAC-SMB Awards". Cebu Daily News. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
- ^ Rosal, Glendale (February 22, 2026). "Chao Sy, Gus Go to be honored at 40th SAC Awards". Cebu Daily News. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
- ^ Villaruel, Emmanuel B. (February 27, 2026). "Typhoon Tino heroes to receive Orlacsan honors at SAC Awards". The Freeman. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
- ^ "Standout athletes, teams to be feted at 40th SAC". SunStar Cebu. February 14, 2026. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
- ^ "SAC bares special awardees for milestone event". The Freeman. February 11, 2026. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
- ^ "SAC-SMB Cebu Sports Awards: Citation awardees bared". MyTV Cebu. February 11, 2026. Retrieved February 16, 2026.