PBA Special Awards Night: The Winners

Last year saw the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) hold an all-Filipino conference that was played under a different circumstance in an unusual environment, On Sunday, the league held a unique awarding ceremony to award the players who played at their best despite the circumstances.

Taking home the biggest win of Sunday's Special Awards Night, Stanley Pringle of the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings became the first player that is not named June Mar Fajardo in a long while, to win the Best Player of the Conference (BPC) award. Pringle just narrowly beat Matthew Wright of the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters in the BPC race.

In 22 games, Pringle provided steady numbers that allowed the Gin Kings to stay at the top of the team standings and eventually, win the team's first Philippine Cup championship in 13 years. He averaged 18 points, five rebounds, and three assists while shooting 44% from the field including 38% from the three-point line. 

Pringle wasn't the Ginebra player who won on Sunday.

Beating out another Phoenix player in Justin Chua, the sweet-shooting Prince Caperal took home the Most Improved Player award after a strong showing in the Clark bubble- filling in the big void left by Greg Slaughter. He only averaged seven points per game but shot 42% from the three-point line. 

Scottie Thompson took home the Samboy Lim Sportsmanship Award to which he beat the likes of CJ Perez of the TerraFirma Dyip and surprisingly, Calvin Abueva of Phoenix. This win by Thompson snapped a three-year winning streak for the award by Gabe Norwood of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

Japeth Aguilar completed Ginebra's quartet of winners on Sunday as he was included in the Elite Five selection. He was joined by Abueva, Pringle, Wright, and JP Erram of the Tropang Giga.

Meanwhile, Aaron Black of the Meralco Bolts won the Outstanding Rookie award. 

Photo is from the PBA