MANILA – The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) have decided to do away with the traditional handing of Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year awards for the trimmed down 2020 season.
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial said the league’s board of governors agreed to instead hand out the Best Player of the Conference and Most Outstanding Rookie titles for the Philippine Cup bubble.
“Sabi nga nila (board of governors), gawin nating special talaga ‘yan,” Marcial said. “Special naman kasi talaga ‘yung bubble. So special lahat ng gagawin natin kasi hindi naman eksaktong Leo Awards ‘yan.”
Marcial added that the traditional Mythical Team selection will be replaced by Special Team while the Sportsmanship Award and the Most Improved Player honors have been retained.
“Nakita naman natin ‘yung hirap na ginawa ng mga player. Suklian naman natin ‘yung ginawa nila,” said Marcial, adding that the virtual awarding ceremony might take place by January.
Based on PBA’s latest data, TNT Tropang Giga’s Bobby Ray Parks Jr. was ahead in the statistical race with 38.3 statistical points (SPs) on the strength of his solid averages of 22.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.3 steals per outing.
Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters’ Calvin Abueva ranked second with 37.1 SPs, Jaymar Perez of TerraFirma Dyip at third with 35.7, Fuel Masters’ Matthew Wright (35.6) and NorthPort Batang Pier’s Christian Standhardinger (34.6).
Tropang Giga’s Roger Pogoy (33.5), Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings’ Stanley Pringle (33.1), Fuel Masters’ Jason Perkins (32.7) and Kings’ Earl Scottie Thompson (32.7) are among those barely out of the elite circle.
TerraFirma’s Roosevelt Adams and Meralco’s Aaron Black keep their one-two position in the stats race among the rookies. But Black could well gain the nod of those involved in the balloting with his team’s semifinal finish.
Also in the top five among rookie race were Magnolia Hotshots Aris Dionisio, Alaska Aces’ Kevin Barkley Ebona and Kings’ Arvin Tolentino./PN
