Fajardo, Arana honored during PBA Season 48 opening

By Robert Andaya

THE Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), Asia’s first play-for-pay league, formally welcomed Season 48 by honoring the top individual players — from the Rookie of the Year to the Most Valuable Player – of the previous season during an unforgettable awarding ceremony at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The star-studded evening also saw the much-awaited  ceremony honoring the members of the Gilas Pilipinas team which  represented the country in the FIBA World Cup 2023 in Manila  and the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou , the parade of teams and their respective muses,  and the opening-day game pitting the Magnolia Hotshots and the TNT Tropang Giga.

A one-minute silent prayer for  the late PBA great Loreto “Ato” Tolentino, who passed away at the age of 76 last November 5, was also held at halftime of the Magnolia-TNT game.

The top individual awardees:

Most Valuable Player – June Mar Fajardo (San Miguel Beer).
Rookie of the Year – Justin Arana (Converge).
Samboy Lim Sportsmanship Award – Kevin Alas (NLEX).
Most Improved Player – Maverick Ahanmisi (Barangay Ginebra).

First Mythical Team – Fajardo (San Miguel Beer), CJ Perez (San Miguel Beer), Scottie Thompson (Barangay Ginebra), Jamie Malonzo (Barangay Ginebra), and Christian  Standhardinger (Barangay Ginebra).

Second Mythical Team – Robert Bolick (NorthPort), Mikey Williams (TNT), Calvin Oftana (TNT), Arvin Tolentino (NorthPort), and Calvin Abueva (Magnolia).

All-Defensive Team – Standhardinger (Ginebra), Fajardo (San Miguel),  Cliff Hodge(Meralco), Jio Jalalon (Magnolia), and Chris Newsome (Meralco).

The PBA Season 48 formally  kicked off with the national team members wearing  their jackets over their PBA club jerseys. On the stage, June Mar Fajardo, Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, Calvin Oftana, Chris Ross, Arvin Tolentino, Kevin Alas, CJ Perez, Marcio Lassiter, and Chris Newsome stood united.

Joining them at centerstage are Gilas Pilipinas head coach  Tim Cone and his assistant coaches, as well as  Hangzhou Asian Games  team manager and Ginebra governor Alfrancis Chua and PBA commissioner Willie Marcial.

Also present were PBA Chairman Ricky Vargas, Vice Chairman Bobby Rosales, and other PBA officials.

Hosted by the popular TV-movie personalities Jose Manalo and Wally Bayola, the grand opening of PBA Season 48 also  featured captivating performances by Chie Filomeno, UP Streetdance Club, P-Pop Alamat, TG of MNL, and Electro Groovers.

Then came the parade of teams with their respective officials and muses:

TNT – Ricky Vargas and muse Atasha Muhlach
Barangay Ginebra – Alfrancis Chua and muse Heaven Peralejo.
Blackwater – Silliman Sy and Herlene Budol.
Converge – Archen Cayabyab  and Yskaela Yaena Fujimoto.
Magnolia – Rene Pardo and Julie Anne San Jose.
Meralco – William Pamintuan and Kaizen Dela Serna
NLEX – Rodrigo Franco and Vanie Gandler.
NorthPort – Erick Arejola and Angel Santos.
Rain or Shine – Atty. Mamerto Mondragon and  Mary Jane Encabo and Jennelle Noblezada.
San Miguel Beer – Robert Non and Franki Russel
TerraFirma Dyip – Bobby Rosales and Saira Khan.
Phoenix – Atty. Raymond Zorilla and Yukii Takahashi

In the lone opening-day action, Magnolia Hotshots defeated TNT Tropang Giga, 110-102.