High-flyers lead PBAPC awardees

MANILA,Philippines—The league’s top aerial artists will lead the list of awardees in the PBA Press Corps awards night Wednesday at the Sapphire Room of the Gateway Mall in Cubao.   Derby Ace’s Niño Canaleta, the reigning slam dunk king, will receive the Mr. Quality Minutes award. Talk ‘N Text’s Kelly Williams, who was runner-up in that memorable slam dunk battle during last summer’s All-Star weekend, will get the Bogs Adornado trophy as Comeback Player of the Year.   Former dunk champion Gabe Norwood will be awarded the Defensive Player of the Year trophy while Manolito Quilingen will be feted as Referee of the Year in the event that starts at 7:30 p.m.   Making up the All-Rookie team are Derby Ace’s Rico Maierhofer, Air21’s Josh Urbiztondo and Ronnie Matias, Meralco’s Ogie Menor and Rain or Shine’s Jervy Cruz.   Still to be determined in the awards backed by San Miguel Corp., Smart Sports and Alaska Milk are the Executive of the Year (Danny Floro trophy) and the Coach of the Year (Baby Dalupan trophy).   There will also be two recipients of the Raffy Japa Presidential Award and a short audio-visual presentation for the late former Bulletin assistant sports editor and  former PBAPC president Willie Caballes, who passed away in April.