MANILA – Three Negrense cagers vie for the Philippine Basketball Association’s (PBA) Most Improved Player title which will be announced in a virtual awards ceremony on Jan. 17.
Bacolodnons Justin Chua of Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters and Reynel Hugnatan of Meralco Bolts and Bago City-native Raul Soyud of NLEX Road Warriors are among the candidates.
Chua had a career conference in the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup bubble as he averaged 13.18 points, 6.82 rebounds, 1.82 assists, 1.73 blocks, and 0.45 steals for the Fuel Masters.
Hugnatan, on the other hand, had a resurgent season where he normed 12.00 points, 4.33 rebounds, 2.33 assists, 0.33 blocks, and 0.44 steals in nine games for the Bolts.
Soyud, for his part, also had a solid conference for the Road Warriors where he averaged 10 points, 6.82 rebounds, 1.09 assists, 0.09 blocks, and 0.09 steals in 11 matches.
Other candidates include Chua’s teammate Jayson Perkins, Rain or Shine Elasto Painters’ Jayvee Mocon and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings’ Prince Caperal.
Meanwhile, candidates for the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup Best Player are TNT Tropang Giga’s Bobby Ray Parks Jr. and Roger Pogoy, Fuel Masters’ Calvin Abueva and Matthew Wright, Terrafirma Dyip’s Jaymar Perez and Kings’ Stanley Pringle.
Among the candidates for the Most Outstanding Rookie in PBA Bubble are Dyip’s Roosevelt Adams, Bolts’ Aaron Black, Magnolia Hotshots’ Aris Dionisio, Alaska Aces’ Barkley Ebona, and Kings’ Arvin Tolentino./PN
