Top Performers, Frontliners Honored at PBA Press Corps Virtual Awards Night

MANILA – The best artists from the past two PBA seasons were honored Sunday night during the league’s first virtual press corps awards night.

The Awards Night turned into a “two-in-one” ceremony, as the PBA Press Corps honored outstanding artists from seasons 44 and 45. Last year’s scheduled event had been canceled at the last minute due to to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event, usually a brilliant ceremony attended by PBA players, coaches and team officials, was held via Zoom on Sunday night, with a broadcast scheduled for the following night.

Sharing the spotlight with the players and coaches were the league’s “cutting edge” – the PBA staff who made it possible to keep the bubble in Clark, Pampanga last year. They were given a special mention, formally received by PBA Deputy Commissioner Eric Castro via Zoom.

Due to the global health crisis, the PBA held a solo conference, the Philippine Cup, in a biosecure environment in Clark, with the 12 teams housed in a hotel while the games were played in one location in the Gymnasium of the Foundation of the University of Angeles.

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial received the 2020 Mr. Executive Award for spearheading the league’s resumption, seven months after the All-Filipino Cup was halted in March due to the pandemic.

“I am grateful to the PBA Press Corps. I keep saying, without the media, there is no PBA,” said Marcial.
TNT Governor Ricky Vargas was the 2019 Executive of the Year. He, like Marcial, also expressed his deep gratitude to the Press Corps for the recognition.

“I am confident that the challenges we face together will strengthen this lasting partnership between the PBA and the PBA Press Corps,” said Vargas, who is also the chairman of the PBA Board of Governors.

Meanwhile, the 2019 President’s Award was awarded to Vergel Meneses, one of the top 25 players in the PBA and now mayor of Bulakan, Bulacan.

“The PBA has been a great help to me,” Meneses said. “Many thanks to you, the PBA family and the PBA Press Corps.”

The 2020 President’s Award was awarded to the 12 PBA ball clubs.
Also honored during the event were San Miguel coach Leo Austria and Geneva coach Tim Cone as the 2019 Baby Dalupan Coach of the Year and the 2020 Bubble Outstanding Coach, respectively.

“This recognition will inspire and motivate me to work harder,” said Austria, who led San Miguel to an unprecedented fifth consecutive Filipino crown in 2019. “But this award will not be mine if it is not for performance. Of the players. They did this for me. “

This is the fourth time in his career that Austria has won the Baby Dalupan Coach of the Year award.

Cone, in his speech, also honored the Dalupan family as well as those who made the bubble possible.

“If you weren’t in (the bubble), you really didn’t know what a company was,” said the 23-time PBA champion coach. “I want to thank the Board of Governors for putting it all together. It was like a great team there, and Commissioner Willie Marcial was the leader of everything.”

“Without that, none of this would have happened. It is an experience that will stay with me for my entire life,” he said.

Last season’s winners were: Justine Chua (Top Bubble D-Fender), the Calvin Abueva quintet, Chris Ross, Mark Barroca, Christian Standhardinger and Chua (All-Bubble D-Fenders), RJ Jazul (Mr. Quality Minutes )), CJ Pérez (Scoring Champion), Barangay Geneva-Meralco Game 5 semifinals (Bubble Game) and Aaron Black, Arvin Tolentino, Roosevelt Adams, Barkley Ebona and Renzo Subido (Rookie Team).

The winners of the 2019 season, meanwhile, are the following: Terrence Romeo (Mr. Quality Minutes), June Mar Fajardo (Order of Merit), Pérez (Scoring Champion), NorthPort vs. NLEX (Game of the Season), Pérez, Robert Bolick, Bobby Ray Parks Jr., Javee Mocon and Abu Tratter (rookie team), Kiefer Ravena, Standhardinger, Beau Belga, Vic Manuel, Arwind Santos and coach Yeng Guiao (team of interviews) and PBA D -Liga Final MVP Thirdy Ravena (Aspirants Cup) and Hased Gabo (Foundation Cup).