Gilas, 1973, 1985 national teams recognized in PBA Press Corps Awards

MANILA, Philippines—The country’s basketball icons of the past and present—bridging three generations in Philippine hoops—shared center stage on a night of celebration during the 20th PBA Press Corps Awards “A Banquet of Heroes” late Tuesday at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong City.

PBA great Bogs Adornado and Jimmy Mariano, members of the 1973 team that took home the gold medal in the Asian Basketball Confederation, Hector Calma, Samboy Lim, Franz Pumaren, Jerry Codiñera, Pido Jarencio, Tonichi Yturri and Elmer Reyes representing the 1985 team which validated the country’s place as one of Asia’s best and the newest heroes in the Gilas Pilipinas team after it put the Philippines back on Asia’s basketball map all came together in a momentous gathering as their glorious feat were recognized.

“Thank you for recognizing us even after 40 years,” said Mariano as he was called on stage together with Adornado to give a brief speech.

“Good luck on your journey,” Mariano added, addressing the members of the Gilas Pilipinas team, represented by head coach Chot Reyes and players LA Tenorio, Jimmy Alapag, Marc Pingris, Jeff Chan, Junemar Fajardo, Gabe Norwood, Larry Fonacier, Ranidel de Ocampo and reserve Beau Belga, which ended decades of basketball frustration in the country after booking a ticket to Spain for the 2014 World Cup of Basketball in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship last August.

Pumaren, who played a key role in the 1985 champion team and is now an accomplished coach, also took the stage and shared words of encouragement for the present national team.

“It’s an honor for us to be associated with Gilas. We hope you continue with the winning tradition,” said Pumaren, who is currently the head coach of the Air21 Express.

Pumaren also added that their team and Gilas are “like a mirror image” of each other and the only difference is that “we’re a bunch of amateurs back then.”

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president and business tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan, the night’s guest of honor, also recounted Gilas Pilipinas’ journey in his 12-minute speech.

While the night belonged to the three national squads, major awards for the season that was were also handed out.

The prestigious Baby Dalupan Coach of the Year trophy went to Luigi Trillo after steering the Alaska Aces to a Commissioner’s Cup title – beating out Talk ‘N Text’s Norman Black, who piloted the Tropang Texters to a Philippine Cup championship and San Mig Coffee’s Tim Cone, fresh off another Governors’ Cup crown last October.

“What an honor it is to be categorized with the likes of Tim Cone and Norman Black,” said Trillo. “I grew up watching them. I’m deeply honored by this distinction.”

Mixers’ Marc Pingris was the Defensive Player of the Year while Meralco Bolts’ Gary David was again given the label as Scoring Champion for the second straight time.

Aces’ Calvin Abueva, the season’s top freshman, headlined the All-Rookie Team along with Petron Blaze center Junemar Fajardo, San Mig Coffee’s Alex Mallari, Meralco’s Cliff Hodge and Rain or Shine’s Chris Tiu.

“I was surprised to be part of this team,” said Tiu.

Tiu wasn’t the lone Elasto Painter given an individual award with Jervy Cruz being the season’s Mr. Quality Minutes while another Booster in Marcio Lassiter was named Comeback Player of the Year.

Team PBA was awarded as the Danny Floro Executive of the Yearwith past chairman Robert Non and PBA commissioner Chito Salud receiving the trophy as the league continues to have increase in its gate receipts while Barangay Ginebra San Miguel’s LA Tenorio was given the Order of Merit recognition for having the most number of player of the week honors.

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