Scribes honor Season 42’s finest

San Miguel coach Leo Austria. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

The top performers of the PBA’s 42nd season will be honored during the PBA Press Corps Annual Awards Night Thursday at Gloria Maris Restaurant inside Gateway Mall at Araneta Center in Cubao.

San Miguel Beer coach Leo Austria highlights the evening when he receives his third straight Coach of the Year award to become the first person to take home the perpetual Virgilio “Baby” Dalupan trophy named in honor of the late prodigious Filipino coach.

The Dalupan trophy is handed out to the person who wins the Coach of the Year award three straight seasons. Austria, who has won the award since 2015, steered San Miguel to two championships this season, including a third straight Philippine Cup title that allowed the Beermen to take home the Jun Bernardino Perpetual trophy.

San Miguel Corp. President and Chief Executive Officer Ramon S. Ang will also be cited with a special honor by the men and women who regularly cover the PBA beat, bestowing on him the Danny Floro Executive of the Year award named after the amiable big boss of the multititled Crispa Redmanizers.

Rep. Mikee Romero, of 1Pacman party list and Globalport team owner, is expected to grace the affair as the league’s outgoing chair and will be joined by his successor Ramon Fernandez of NLEX.

The ceremony is going to witness the awarding of the PBAPC’s first ever Game of the Season to be bestowed on the Barangay Ginebra-Star Governors’ Cup duel held last Sept. 3.

The other regular awards include the William “Bogs” Adornado Comeback Player of the Year to Kelly Williams of TNT Katropa, the Mighty Sports Defensive Player of the Year to San Miguel’s Chris Ross, and Mr. Quality Minutes to Jio Jalalon of Star.

The Finals MVP of the season’s three conferences will also be given a plaque of recognition, namely, Ross (Philippine Cup), Alex Cabagnot (Commissioner’s Cup), and LA Tenorio (Governors’ Cup).

Among the other awardees are Terrence Romeo (Mighty Sports Scoring Champion) and Tenorio (Player of the Week Order of Merit).