The amiable three-year pro was picked from a list of nine players who stood out in the league’s numerous outreach programs both in Metro Manila and out of town, and honored with the award created in conjunction with the First Gentleman Foundation of Atty. Mike Arroyo.
He was presented a trophy and a P100,000 check during Monday night’s Leo Awards by presidential son Dato Arroyo, who represented his father during the well-attended rites at the Music Museum.
Dela Cruz, who narrowly lost out to Coca-Cola’s Rafi Reavis in the race for this season’s Most Improved Player plum, has been one of the most admired and respected players in the league — both for his blue-collar work ethic and his sportsmanship inside the court.
The Fil-Am forward also touched a lot of hearts in an outreach program conducted by the league during a road game in Bohol last October.
"More than anything else, I think Anthony embodies what a PBA player should be — a hard-working cager respected by teammates, fellow players, the media and more importantly the fans," said commissioner Noli Eala.
A six-man panel made up of representatives from the Office of the Commissioner, carrying station NBN-4 and the First Gentleman Foundation picked the winner based on four criteria: sincerity in participating in the outreach activities; sportsmanship qualities during games; own advocacy projects; and a good image on and off the court.
The other candidates were FedEx stars Vergel Meneses and Jerry Codiñera, Ginebra’s Rob Johnson, Alaska’s Don Allado, San Miguel Beer’s Benjie Paras and Dondon Hontiveros, Sta. Lucia Realty’s Marlou Aquino, Red Bull’s Lordy Tugade and Coca-Cola’s Rudy Hatfield.