The best of the best of the year that was were honored in Tuesday night’s PBA Press Corps Awards.
The brightest PBA stars, past and present, converged on Tuesday, September 24 at the PBA Press Corps Awards Night.
But it was not only about the players who fight tooth and nail inside the court game in and game out.
Among those honored by the men and women covering the PBA beat was Ginebra governor Alfrancis Chua, who received the Danny Floro Executive of the Year award.
Chua attributed this honor to the coaches and players of the SMC teams, which have been a fixture in the playoffs.
“I wanna say thank you the coaches, coach Tim (Cone), coach Jorge (Gallent), coach Leo (Austria), coach Chito Victolero, and to all the players. They’re winning, [kaya] siguro kaya ako nagka-award,” he said upon receiving the award named after the former Crispa Redmanizers owner.
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The SMC sports director also dedicated the award to their big boss, Ramon S. Ang.
“Boss this is for you. Thank you so much for supporting me,” said the Ginebra official.
Meanwhile, Robert Jaworski Sr., the architect of the Never Say Die Ginebra mantra, received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Robert “Dudot” Jaworski Jr. received the plum on his father’s behalf on a night graced by guest of honor Renauld Barrios.
“I’m deeply honored and humbled to accept this Lifetime Achievement Award. My heartfelt gratitude goes out to the PBA Press Corps for this recognition,” the elder Jaworski said in a speech read by his son.
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Also a recipient of a major award was the coaching staff of the Meralco Bolts, who was recognized as the Virgilio “Baby” Dalupan Coach of the Year.
The coaching staff of the Bolts, who clinched their first title in the Philippine Cup in PBA Season 48, included head coach Luigi Trillo and active consultant Nenad Vucinic, among others.
“I’d like to thank the players. They have to put up with a lot of things from our coaching staff. We have been very demanding of them and I’m glad they trusted the process they went through to win the championship,” said Vucinic.
A vital part of that championship run were Cliff Hodge and Bong Quinto, who emerged as the Defensive Player of the Year and Mr. Quality Minutes, respectively.
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Meanwhile, NLEX star Robert Bolick was also named Scoring Champion while San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo was handed out the Order of Merit for having the most Player of the Game citations the past season.
Elder statesmen LA Tenorio and Ian Sanglang, who went through separate battles against illness, were also adjudged Comeback Players of the Year.
All-Rookie team members Stephen Holt, Adrian Nocum, Kenneth Tuffin, Kemark Carino, and Cade Flores also joined the 30th edition of the Awards.
Cone received the President’s Award in lieu of Gilas Pilipinas after seeing action in the FIBA Olympic Qualifers in Riga, Latvia where they upset the home team.
Longtime PBA staff Ma. Corazon Perez and Hazel Ancheta, as well as the 2024 Japa Cup champion MagBeerPagRain also got Special Citations.
The Game of the Season belonged to Meralco and San Miguel, who figured in a classic clash in Game 6 of the Philippine Cup Finals.