The SP Sports Awards are back again and the list of 35 finalists for the 13 categories have been announced.
After a long week of deliberation by the official Auditor of the SPSA, the top 3 of each award categories have been vetted, following their respective selections, and were recommended by the SP Awards Selection Panel, headed by Chair Warwick Vele.
“This year we received a good number of high-quality nominations in each category, from all over the country and abroad, and included new names and faces.”
He added that it was especially pleasing to receive nominations for the categories outside of the high-profile ones, these being for Community Sports Initiative, Best Sportsperson with a Disability, and National Performance.
The finalists, in alphabetical order, for the SP Sports Awards are:
1. Male Athlete of the Year
Morea Baru
Matthew Stubbings
Alwin Komolong
2. Female Athlete of the year
Violet Apisah
Dika Toua
Tanya Rumah
3. Team of the Year
PNG Lewas
Womens Tennis
PNG Lakatois
4. National Performance of the Year
Morobe Hammerheads
Lae Natives
Benjamin Aliel
5. Community Sports Initiative Award
Santos Love Cricket Program
Kavieng Basketball
Roland Muluyaru
6. Junior Male Athlete of the Year
John Kariko Jnr
Sugar Ray Hakena
Adam Maikai
7. Junior Female Athlete of the Year
Idau Vagi
Dika Lohia
Colita Hakena
8. Best Sports Person with a Disability
Dorna Longbut
Steven Abraham
Haoda Agari
9. Sports Official of the Year
David Yareboinen
Barbara Stubbings
Nelson Stone
10. Sports Photo of the Year
Jordan Sere
Fidelis Wasari
Charlie Dumavi
11. Sports Media of the Year
Rikila Wura
Patricia Keamo
Charlie Dumavi
This announcement also includes the opening of the SMS Voting for the People’s Choice Award, by which the winner of the PCA is selected through a public vote. The more votes a finalist gets, the more chances of them winning.
Candidates for this category come from four finalists of the following.
Male Athlete of the Year
Female Athlete of the Year
Team of the Year
National Performance of the Year
Voting for the People’s Choice Award category will close on 26th May 2023.
The SP Awards Presentation Dinner will be held at the traditional home of the Awards, Crowne Hotel (formerly Plaza) this year, on Saturday 27th May 2023.
This will be the first SPSA after a 3-year hiatus due to the covid-19 pandemic and it will also be livestreamed on the SP Sports Awards Page.