MANILA, Philippines—Vergel Meneses was one of the PBA’s best players of all time, and nearly two decades since his retirement, his impact is being felt better outside of the parquet floor.
Seventeen years since his retirement from the league, and a few years as the head coach of his alma mater’s men’s basketball team, Meneses continued his hard work as the mayor of Bulakan, Bulacan.
Jose Rizal University’s alum is leading Bulakan’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic less than a year since taking office.
To celebrate his civic duty, the PBA Press Corps will award Meneses with the President’s Award on its annual awards night.
Meneses will be the guest of honor and speaker in the celebration that was originally scheduled on March 16 at Novotel Manila but was postponed due to the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine that was put in place to curb the effects of the pandemic.
A member of the league’s 40 Greatest and the 1993 MVP, Meneses will be the second recipient of the plum that PBA Board Chairman Ricky Vargas will award.
Meneses, a three-time champion and three-time Best Player of the Conference, amassed 9,543 points in 590 games and had career averages of 16 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists.