Preparations, nominations underway for 2026 Davao Sports Heroes Night

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Groundworks and recommendations for awardees are ongoing for the 2026 Davao Sports Heroes Night, an annual sports recognition activity presented by the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) in cooperation with Southern Sports Digest here this September.

The Sports Heroes Night is an award-giving affair (activity/event) for both national and local based athletes and sports personalities from the Davao region as well as other parts of Mindanao who have excelled in their specific fields and have brought pride and honor to the country and their respective towns or provinces in the international and national levels.

Similar to its inaugural edition last year, four major awards will still be presented to athletes, coaches and organizations this time around, namely — the male Sports Hero of the Year award, the female Sports Hero of the Year, the Sports Heroes Night “Coach of the Year” and the Sports Heroes Night “Sports Association of the Year”.

This time however, the organizers have hinted that there will be new additions to the awardees and some new citations as well, such as the Sports Heroes Night “Rising Athlete of the Year” award, which will be presented to new and budding sports personalities who have excelled in their respective fields.

In addition, special plaques of recognition and certificates of appreciation will be given to various athletes, coaches and sports organizations or groups who have excelled in their particular disciplines, including support organizations, media and other stake holders who have contributed to the development and promotion of sports in the community.

The nominees’ qualifications for the annual awards will be based on their accomplishments from 2025 up to the 1st quarter of 2026. Selected members of the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) and Southern Sports Digest will be handling the screening process of the awardees.

National Sports Associations, groups and organizations may send in their recommendations and nominees via the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Facebook page, the Southern Sports Digest Official Facebook page or via email at [email protected] or [email protected].

Kindly include the full name/s, details of the athlete or organization, the events participated and won from the international to the national level, as well as some photos for the screening committee’s reference.

Last year, the Male Sports Hero of the Year plum was awarded to Chino Sy Tancontian, while the Female Sports Hero of the Year awardee was his sister Sydney Sy Tancontian of the Pilipinas Sambo Federation Inc. (PSFI) following their spectacular performances in 2024 until the first quarter of 2025 in the international scene.

Also landing the Coach of the Year award was Ace Larida, the head coach of the Pilipinas Sambo national team, while the PSFI under the leadership of its president Paolo L. Tanconitan received the NSA of the Year award. — Leonard Paul Palo/DSA

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