FOR successfully leading the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) in its 45th season under a most unconventional way, Commissioner Willie Marcial will be honored as Executive of the Year in the virtual San Miguel Corp.-Philippine Sportswriters Association (SMC-PSA) Awards Night on Saturday at the TV5 Media Center.
Marcial will be the second PBA commissioner to be feted with the award by the country’s oldest media organization headed by Manila Bulletin sports editor President Tito Talao after Chito Salud in 2012.
The recognition is one of 32 awards to be handed out in the ceremony presented by San Miguel Corp. and backed by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Cignal TV.
Gretchen Ho and Carlo Pamintuan will host the program which has 1 Pacman Partylist, Chooks-to-Go and Rain or Shine as major backers. The program will be aired on Monday over One Sports+ from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, meanwhile, will receive the Chooks-to-Go Fan Favorite “Manok ng Bayan” Award.
The only fighter to win titles in eight different weight divisions, the sitting senator didn’t fight in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic, but made sure to lend a helping a hand to those in need.
“Notwithstanding the pandemic, Senator Pacquiao went around the country to help affected communities with their everyday needs. In all, he already donated more than 5,000 kilos of chicken, rice and canned goods, aside from financial assistance in his various sorties nationwide,” said Chook-to-Go in its statement.
Pacquiao is a PSA Hall of Famer after having been named Athlete of the Year five times in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2009.
Marcial defied the odds and bravely led a 500-plus strong PBA contingent in Clark in the last quarter of 2020 to stage the Philippine Cup in a bubble environment.
Despite a staggering P65-million price tag, Marcial was able to right the ship that led to the completion of a season that almost fell on the brink.
Past recipients of the award were PSC Chairman William Ramirez, San Miguel Corp. President and CEO Ramon S. Ang, Manuel V. Pangilinan, Wilfred Uytengsu, Hans Sy, Ricky Vargas, Dan Palami, Ernesto “Judes” Echauz and Philip Ella Juico.