Caguioa, Al-Hussaini lead PBAPC honorees

MANILA, Philippines - Mark Caguioa of Barangay Ginebra and 2010 No. 2 draft pick Rabeh Al-Hussaini of Petron Blaze and four other rookies from last season will be honored for their achievements during the PBA Press Corps Awards tomorrow at the Topaz Room of Gateway Suites in Cubao, Quezon City.

Caguioa will be the recipient of the Accel-PBA Order of Merit, while Al-Hussaini, along with Petron teammate and top pick Noy Baclao, Ginebra’s Robert Labagala and John Wilson, and Powerade’s Sean Anthony, comprise the Energen All-Rookie Team.

Game official Jimmy Mariano will also be awarded Referee of the Year.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona will be the guest of honor and speaker.

Talk n Text’s Jason Castro and Petron Blaze’s Arwind Santos and Danny Ildefonso have been named recipients of the Maynilad-Mr. Quality Minutes award, Sapal Elastic Sealant Defensive Player of the Year plum, and the Comeback Player of the Year honors, respectively.

Highlighting the ceremony is the awarding of the Virgilio “Baby” Dalupan Trophy and the Danny Floro Trophy to the Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year, respectively.

For Talk ‘N Text’s major breakthrough in the season just past, coach Chot Reyes and team owner Manny V. Pangilinan are the leading contenders for these prestigious awards.

Presented by San Miguel Corp., Talk n Text and Powerade, the event will also be marked by the launching of the PBA Press Corps’ Extra Period magazine, featuring the exploits of this year’s awardees.

PBA commissioner Chito Salud, current board chairman Mert Mondragon of Rain or Shine, immediate past chair Rene Pardo of B-Meg and other PBA officials are expected to grace the event to be hosted by seasoned sportscasters Sev Sarmenta and Patricia Bermudez-Hizon.

Caguioa clinched the Order of Merit plum by winning the most number of Best Player of the Week citations last season as he helped the Kings reach the Commissioner’s Cup Finals.

Al-Hussaini was drafted by Air21 (now Barako Bull) but got traded to Petron (previously San Miguel Beer) during the Commissioner’s Cup together with Baclao, his Ateneo teammate, and fellow rookie Rey Guevarra.

He suffered an ACL injury late in the Governors Cup but was a big factor why the Boosters reached the Finals where they stunned Talk ‘N Text in seven games.