OUTGOING PBA chairman Patrick Gregorio, who serves as alternate governor of Talk ‘N Text, will be honored as the 2015 Accel-Executive of the Year when the PBA Press Corps (PBAPC) holds its Annual Awards Night this Wednesday at the Century Park Hotel.
The soft-spoken Tropang Texters executive will be feted with the award named after legendary Crispa Redmanizers team owner Danny Floro in a year that saw the pro league registered a new record number of teams and a new all-time high in crowd attendance.
Under Gregorio’s term, the PBA expanded to a record of 12 member-teams with the entry of expansion franchises KIA Motors and Blackwater.
The league also celebrated its 40-year existence with a lavish opening ceremony that attracted a new all-time crowd attendance of 52,612 at the new Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
It was also under Gregorio’s watch that a documentary tracing Asia’s first ever play-for-pay league’s humble beginnings from 1975 onwards was produced.
The league likewise undertook a new direction following the entry of Asian imports in the season-ending Governors Cup, which further strengthened the PBA’s thrust to go global.
And more importantly, a transition in the PBA leadership was effected with the appointment of outgoing commissioner Chito Salud as the first ever president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the league in a move to sustain the gains made during the season and adapt to the ever-changing times.
Gregorio will be joining a galaxy of superstars on the special gala night set Sept. 16 that includes June Mar Fajardo, named Gerry’s Grill-Defensive Player of the Year, Calvin Abueva (Mr. Quality Minutes), Alex Cabagnot (Comeback Player), Paul Lee (Order of Merit), along with the All-Rookie Team made up of Stanley Pringle, Chris Banchero, Jericho Cruz, Matt Ganuelas-Rosser and Jake Pascual.
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