For winning a world title each and giving the Philippine Sports something to cheer about last year, the Philippine Sportswriters Association named boxer Nonito Donaire and cue artist Dennis Orcollo 2011 Athletes of the Year.

In a February 2011, Donaire punched his way to a second world championship in three years with a spectacular second round technical knockout of tough Mexican Fernando Montiel in their unification fight for the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization bantamweight title belts at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The 29-year-old boxing champion, also known as the “Filipino Flash” successfully retained his 118-lbs title belts with a lopsided, unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Omar Andres Narvaez of Argentina in headlining a huge boxing card at the Madison Square Garden in New York.

Later, it was Orcollo’s turn to whip up a storm at the other end of the globe, pocketing his first world title by winning the world 8-ball championship at the Fujairah Exhibition Center in the United Arab Emirates after routing Neils Feijen of the Netherlands in the finals, 10-3.

Not to be outdone, the 32-year-old Orcollo, nicknamed `Robocop’, traveled with Team Philippines to Palembang, Indonesia for the 26th Southeast Asian Games where he bagged the gold medal in the eight-ball event.

He ended the season as the Player of the Year by the World Pool and Billiard Association and finished as the top player in the world rankings.

Orcollo and Donaire will lead the sports honorees to be recognized by the PSA, the country’s oldest media organization, composed of editors and sportswriters from the national broadsheets and tabloids, when it holds its Annual Awards Night on March 3 at the Manila Hotel.

Also considered as top contender for the Athlete of the Year award was Juvic Pagunsan, who became the first Filipino to be named as Asian Tour Order of Merit champion for topping the Asian rankings.

Having been elevated to the PSA Hall of Fame two years ago, Pacquiao, a six-time Athlete of the Year winner in a nine-year span, is no eligible for the honor.*PNA

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