Meralco coaches, players bag top prizes from PBA scribes after historic season

MANILA, Philippines – Meralco proved to be the big winner as its coaches and players snagged top prizes in the 30th PBA Press Corps Awards Night on Tuesday, September 24, at the Novotel Manila following a historic season.

The entire Bolts coaching staff received the prestigious Virgilio “Baby” Dalupan Coach of the Year plum for their collaborative effort in guiding Meralco to its first-ever championship in franchise history.

Helmed by head coach Luigi Trillo and consultant Nenad Vucinic, the Bolts dethroned mighty San Miguel in the Philippine Cup to capture a breakthrough title that came after four heartbreaking final losses.

Meanwhile, Meralco standouts Cliff Hodge and Bong Quinto won the Defensive Player of the Year and Mr. Quality Minutes plums, respectively, as they played key roles in that championship run.

The PBA Press Corps paid tribute to one of the greatest players to ever grace the league, honoring legend Robert Jaworski Sr. with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Jaworski, the 1978 MVP and the first playing coach to win a title, is the second personality to receive the award five years after the PBA Press Corps made Alaska team owner Wilfred Uytengsu the first recipient.

San Miguel Corportion sports director Alfrancis Chua copped his third Danny Floro Executive of the Year award as the Beermen reached the finals of the two conferences last season and won a record-extending 29th title by reigning in the Commissioner’s Cup.

Chua tied the late Elmer Yanga, the team manager of the RFM franchise, for most Executive of the Year citations.

NLEX star Robert Bolick, Barangay Ginebra veteran La Tenorio, Magnolia stalwart Ian Sangalang, and San Miguel ace June Mar Fajardo were feted as well.

Bolick crowned himself the Scoring Champion by averaging 25.3 points, Tenorio and Sangalang shared the William “Bogs” Adornado Comeback Player of the Year award for overcoming colon cancer and hyperthyroidism, respectively, while Fajardo got the Order of Merit for most Player of the Week honors.

Fajardo is also part of the Gilas Pilipinas crew that obtained the President’s Award for its remarkable stint in the previous FIBA Olympics Qualifying Tournament, where the Nationals pulled off an upset against Latvia and made the semifinals.

Ginebra’s Stephen Holt, Rain or Shine’s Adrian Nocum, NorthPort’s Cade Flores, Phoenix’s Kenneth Tuffin, and Terrafirma’s Kemark Cariño made the All-Rookie Team to round out the honor roll. – Rappler.com