TWO of the PBA’s first events of 2021 before the opening of the 46th season will be done virtually.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said the awards ceremony for the top performers in last year’s bubble set January 17 and the draft scheduled on March 14 will be held under a virtual set-up.
Marcial said he has already spoke to TV5 officials about the production aspect of the bubble awards rites in lieu of the annual Leo Awards following the shortened 2020 season.
Meanwhile, the PBA rookie draft, unlike in the past years, will not be staged in a public setting due to the threat of the coronavirus.
The Best Player of the Conference will be given away in the awards ceremony with Stanley Pringle of Barangay Ginebra, Bobby Ray Parks of TNT, Calvin Abueva and Matthew Wright of Phoenix Super LPG, CJ Perez of Terrafirma, and Christian Standhardinger of NorthPort in the running for the plum.
Also to be given awarded are spots in the Special Team (the Mythical Five in the bubble), Outstanding Rookie, Most Improved Player, and Sportsmanship Award.
Meanwhile, the PBA is still studying whether it can hold pre-draft activities under the current health situation.
“Virtual ang pinag-uusapan namin at pinag-aaralan namin ‘yung draft combine kung pupuwede,” said Marcial.
Application for the draft is ongoing until January 27 with Jason Brickman, Jeremiah Grey, Brandon Rosser, and Andre Paras among those who already filed their papers.
Top prospects like Jerrick Ahanmisi, Joshua Munzon, Alvin Pasaol, Franky Johnson and Santi Santillan have declared for the March 14 draft proceedings.
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