UAAP champions Mike Phillips and Kent Pastrana headline the list of awardees as the Collegiate Press Corps (CPC) honors the country's top collegiate performers in its 2026 Annual Awards Night presented by Strong Group Athletics on Monday, June 29, at Discovery Suites Manila in Ortigas, Pasig.
Fresh from leading De La Salle University and University of Santo Tomas back to the top of UAAP Season 88, Phillips and Pastrana are named the CPC Men's and Women's Basketball Players of the Year in a celebration that recognizes the best athletes and coaches from the recently concluded UAAP and NCAA seasons.
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A total of 27 awards will be handed out by the national print and online media during the annual rites, which are supported by Converge FiberX, San Miguel Corporation, the Philippine Sports Commission, Go For Gold, D' Generals, Buffalo's Wings 'N Things, and Discovery Suites.
Phillips also banners the CPC Men's Basketball Mythical Team, marking his second selection to the elite five and his first Basketball Player of the Year citation backed by Converge FiberX.
Joining the La Salle big man are reigning UAAP MVP Janrey Pasaol of Far Eastern University, NCAA Season 101 Finals MVP Janti Miller of San Beda University, Letran playmaker Titing Manalili, and UST standout Collins Akowe.
Pastrana, meanwhile, leads the Women's Basketball Mythical Team together with fellow UST star Brigette Santos, National University's Ann Pingol and Tin Cayabyab, and Ateneo's Kacey Dela Rosa.
Dela Rosa will also receive a special citation after helping Gilas Pilipinas win gold medals in both the women's 5-on-5 and 3x3 competitions in the Southeast Asian Games while playing a key role in the country's qualification for the FIBA 3x3 World Cup.
Volleyball stars will likewise be recognized, with former UAAP MVP Angel Canino of La Salle earning UAAP Women's Volleyball Player of the Year honors and Letran libero Lara Mae Silva taking the NCAA counterpart after helping end the Lady Knights' 28-year championship drought.
National University's Leo Ordiales and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde's Reymark Betco are named the UAAP and NCAA Men's Volleyball Players of the Year following title-winning campaigns.
Football will again be part of the annual celebration as San Beda's Marc Pellejo and University of the Philippines' Ramil Bation III receive the NCAA and UAAP Men's Football Player of the Year awards, while Far Eastern University's Regine Rebosura is recognized as the UAAP Women's Football Player of the Year.
The coaches behind the championship runs will also be honored, with Topex Robinson of La Salle and Yuri Escueta of San Beda named the UAAP and NCAA Men's Basketball Coaches of the Year.
UST's Haydee Ong earns the UAAP Women's Basketball Coach of the Year citation, while multi-titled La Salle mentor Ramil de Jesus and Letran's Mayeth Carolino receive the UAAP and NCAA Women's Volleyball Coach of the Year awards.
National University's Dante Alinsunurin and Saint Benilde's Arnold Laniog complete the coaching awardees as the Men's Volleyball Coaches of the Year in the UAAP and NCAA, respectively.
Now on its fourth staging under the unified Collegiate Press Corps following the merger of the UAAP and NCAA media organizations in 2022, the annual awards night continues to celebrate the athletes and coaches who defined another memorable year in Philippine collegiate sports.
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