RAIN or Shine stalwart Paul Lee and Globalport’s Stanley Pringle share the limelight in a rare moment a week from now when the PBA Press Corps (PBAPC) honors the top performers of the season’s past during its annual Awards Night at the Century Park Hotel.
Lee will be the recipient of the PBAPC-Accel Order of Merit Award, while Pringle, the other half of the Batang Pier’s vaunted 1-2 punch, leads the five-man All-Rookie team to be feted during the Sept. 16 grand celebration starting at 7 p.m.
The prolific Elasto Painter guard was the automatic choice as Order of Merit awardee after being named four times as Accel-PBAPC Player of the Week during the season.
No other player outside of him won the weekly honor more than twice.
In 53 games last year, the combo guard out of University of the East averaged 15.5 points per game behind a high 39 percent shooting from three-point range, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists.
Pringle meanwhile, leads the All-Rookie squad which has for members Alaska’s Chris Banchero, Jake Pascual of Barako Bull, Matt Ganuelas Rosser of Talk ‘N Text and Lee’s Rain or Shine teammate Jericho Cruz.
The Globalport guard was the top pick in last season’s draft and emerged as the Rookie of the Year.
Highlight of the annual proceedings, a tradition the 26-year-old PBAPC has held since 1993, is the presentation of the Virgilio ‘Baby’ Dalupan Coach of the Year award, named after the legendary Crispa Redmanizers mentor dubbed as ‘The Maestro.’
Also to be handed out are the Danny Floro Executive of the Year award in tribute to the amiable, late team manager of the fabled Crispa franchise, along with the William ‘Bogs’ Adornado Comeback Player of the Year award held in honor of the former three-time league MVP.
Other awards to be given out are the Defensive Player of the Year, Mr. Quality Minutes (Sixth Man Award), and the Scoring Champion.
League officials led by president and CEO Chito Salud and commissioner Chito Narvasa, along with members of the PBA Board headed by chairman Robert Non are expected to join the PBAPC under president Barry Pascua of Bandera during the two-hour long celebration.
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