THE Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) was named Sports Tourism Tournament of the Year during the Fifth Sports Tourism Awards held Tuesday at the Quest Hotel inside the Clark Freeport Zone.
The PBA was hailed for mounting the 2020 Philippine Cup under a bubble set up at Clark at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Commissioner Willie Marcial personally received the 15-inch gold trophy.
A creation of Raymundo Art Collection, the trophy features a variety of elements, each of which represents a component of Philippine Sports Tourism and its role in bringing the industry together.
Now on its 47th year, the league was recognized for its “resolute, passion and commitment to basketball fans, and continued efforts in promoting the sport despite the challenges during the pandemic in 2020.”
The PBA was the first to mount a major tournament during the pandemic, staging the all-Filipino Cup at Clark behind a work force of more than 500 persons, including all 12 member teams.
Barangay Ginebra won the championship at the expense of TNT in five games.
Also honored were the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) as National Sports Association of 2021, Cebu Pacific Air as Sports Tourism Airline of the Year, Clark Development Corporation as Sports Tourism Destination of the Year and Quest Hotel as Sports Tourism Hotel of the Year.
Bases Conversion Development Authority senior vice president Arrey Perez received the award in behalf of the SBP.
The PSTA helped boost sports tourism in the country since 2015. It honors destinations, venues, local governments, sports associations, event organizers and private companies which help local sports tourism industry grow rapidly in recognition of their contributions to establishing the Philippines as a premier destination for sports tourism.