By REYNALD MAGALLON
Edgar “Ed” Picson, veteran sportscaster and Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines president, passed away on Wednesday, April 19. He was 69.
Colleague and friend Quinito Henson bared the sad news on Twitter as Picson, whose voice brought life to PBA games in the ’90s, succumbed to liver cancer.
No official statement from family and relatives was released as of press time but friends and former colleagues already went to social media to pay tribute and remember his great days as a sports broadcaster, columnist, and official.
“ABAP president & dear friend Ed Picson passed away at 11 this morning due to complications from cancer of the liver. Ed was a legend in sports broadcasting,” Henson said in a tweet.
“Lost another old friend today. Farewell, Ed Picson, my colleague from Vintage Enterprises in the early 1990’s. You were always articulate, level-headed and spoke your mind. A great sportscaster, voice talent and boxing official. God bless you, kind sir,” Bill Velasco posted as he pays tribute to his old friend and sports broadcasting legend.
Picson was known for his love for basketball and served as a commentator and lead play-by-play for the PBA from 1987-1999 under Vintage Sports.
He also wrote columns for Manila Bulletin before becoming ABAP executive director.
Picson played a key role in Philippine boxing team’s historic three-medal haul in the Tokyo Olympics. He was then elected as a president of ABAP succeeding former president Ricky Vargas.
