DAVAO CITY — No less than Philippine Sports Commission chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio has been invited to serve as guest of honor in the 2026 Davao Sports Heroes Night on 12 September at the Rogen Inn here.

The PSC chairman is expected to inspire the best and brightest athletes of this city while sharing his experience running the top government sports agency in the annual sports recognition event presented by the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) in cooperation with Southern Sports Digest.

Gregorio will be joined by other dignitaries from the City Sports Development Division Office, the City Government of Davao and other organizations.

The Sports Heroes Night is an awards ceremony honoring nationally and locally based athletes and sports personalities from the Davao Region and other parts of Mindanao who have excelled in their respective fields and brought pride and honor to the country and their respective towns or provinces at the national and international levels.

Four major awards will be presented to athletes, coaches and organizations: Male Sports Hero of the Year, Female Sports Hero of the Year, Sports Heroes Night Coach of the Year and Sports Heroes Night Sports Association of the Year.

Unlike last year, there will be new additions to the roster of awardees, including the Sports Heroes Night Rising Athlete of the Year award as well as Sports Team of the Year award.

Last year, Chino Sy Tancontian received the Male Sports Hero of the Year award while his sister, Sydney Sy Tancontian of the Pilipinas Sambo Federation Inc., was named Female Sports Hero of the Year following their spectacular performances on the international stage.