February 5, 2016
A LEGENDARY figure in both the field of softball and baseball will be the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Philippine Sportswriters Association a week from now.
Filomeno ‘Boy’ Codinera is going to be bestowed with the prestigious honor by the country’s sportswriting fraternity when it holds its Annual Awards Night presented by MILO and San Miguel Corp. on Feb. 13 at the One Esplanade in Pasay City.
A can’t-miss individual owing to his towering presence and strong personality, Codinera was a long-time member of the fabled Blu Boys, whose exploits of hitting seven consecutive doubles in the 1968 World Championships in Oklahoma, USA landed him in the Guinness Book of World Records.
“It’s about time the great Boy Codinera or ‘Mang Boy’ to all us, be accorded with an award that speaks volumes of his stature as a distinguished softball and baseball player who did us proud not only in Asia but around the world. The man truly deserves it,” said PSA president Riera Mallari of The Standard.
Past recipients of the award bestowed by the country’s oldest media organization, which turns 67 this year, include icons such as champion coach Virgilio ‘Baby’ Dalupan, boxing referee Carlos Padilla, former International Olympic Committee representative to the country Frank Elizalde, one-time FIBA-Asia secretary-general Mauricio ‘Moying’ Martelino and the late basketball great Carlos Loyzaga.
Codinera, who will celebrate his 77th birthday this March, is just one of a handful of awardees to be honored on this night when world boxing champions Donnie Nietes, Nonito Donaire Jr., and rising golf star Miguel Tabuena will be presented with the Athletes of the Year trophy.
The gala night also presented by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Basketball Association, MVP Sports Foundation, Smart, Maynilad, Accel, Globalport, Rain or Shine, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Senator Chiz Escudero, and SM Prime Holdings, will be hosted by Quinito Henson and Patricia Bermudez-Hizon.
Codinera was also a member of the Philippine team that won a bronze medal in the 1966 World Amateur Baseball Championship held in Hawaii.
The father of basketball star Jerry, and ex-PBA players Harmon and Pat, Codinera also played for the Blu Boys that won the Asian Men’s Softball Championship in 1967, 1973, and 1977.
He also steered University of Santo Tomas to four baseball championships and six softball titles in the UAAP.
A retired member of the so-called ‘Manila’s Finest,’ Codinera was likewise a member of the celebrated Canlubang Sugar Barons who dominated the Manila Bay Baseball League and the local softball tournaments in the 1950’s all the way to the 70s.
Other than the Athlete of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award, also to be handed out by the PSA are the President’s Award (Gilas Pilipinas), Ms. Volleyball (Alyssa Valdez), and Mr. Basketball (Calvin Abueva and Terrence Romeo).
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