History, accolades run aplenty at 30th PBA Press Corps Awards
The 30th edition of the PBA Press Corps Annual Awards will be full of history when they conduct it on September 24 at the Novotel Manila.
First on the list will be the presence of former Commissioner Renauld “Sonny” Barrios as he will be the guest of honor and keynote speaker on the awards night, and finally reconnect with his PBA family.
Barrios was the longtime deputy commissioner to the late Emilio “Jun” Bernardino before becoming the main man of Asia's first pay-for-play league in 2008.
He left the league in 2010 but continued to work hand-in-hand with the PBA when he became the executive director of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP). He held the position from that year until his retirement earlier this year.
Barrios, along with the entire Press Corps led by its president Vladi Eduarte of the Abante Group, will recognize the PBA's top performers who made the previous season a memorable one.
Fajardo receives his third citation, Bolick gets his first
The PBA’s only eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo will etch his name in history books again as he receives his third Order of Merit honor. He has received the same citation in 2018 and 2019.
On the other hand, Robert Bolick will receive his first ever Scoring Champion accolade.
In the PBA’s Season 48 edition, Bolick averaged 25.4 points per game to lead the league in scoring in his first season with NLEX Road Warriors after acquiring him in a blockbuster trade with NorthPort Batang Pier for Don Trollano.
Game of the Season happens in the Finals
Meralco Bolts and San Miguel Beermen will share the spotlight as their Game 6 of the Season 48 Philippine Cup Finals will be honored as the Game of the Season.
It was the game where JMF and Chris Newsome exchanged clutch plays in the end game.
In a game where the Beermen climbed up from a 17-point deficit, the 34-year-old Fajardo made a surprise attempt at the three-point area off a broken play to tie the game at 78-all with 3.3 remaining.
But Meralco’s captain, Chris Newsome buried his trademark hang-time jumper to lead the Bolts to their first-ever PBA championship in franchise history.
Holt and Quinto join the fray
Stephen Holt and Bong Quinto get to share the center stage as they get their first award of the annual event.
Holt, the unanimous winner of Season 48 Rookie of the Year Award, will now lead the All-Rookie Team selection.
He will be joined by Cade Flores of NorthPort, Adrian Nocum of Rain or Shine, Ken Tuffin of Phoenix, and Kemark Carino of Terrafirma.
The 6-foot-4 Fil-Am, was the no. 1 overall pick of Terrafirma last season and as a promising rookie, he led the Dyip to its first playoffs appearance in the last eight years. With that, he was even included in the MVP race and became part of the season’s 2nd Mythical Team.
Meanwhile, Quinto will receive his first Mr. Quality Minutes award - the PBAPC’s version the Sixth Man of the Year.
The Meralco guard edged out SMB’s Jericho Cruz who won the award last year.
Quinto played 39 games last year and he averaged 10.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 26 minutes for the Bolts.
Other accolades
Lifetime Achievement Award will be handed out for the second time in the 30-year history of the awards night handed out by the men and women who cover the PBA.
Other citations to be given out are the President’s Award, Defensive Player of the Year, and Bogs Adornado Comeback Player of the Year.
There would also be a special tribute to the PBA family members who passed away. They will be honored with a minute of silence and a final buzzer.
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The East Asia Super League (EASL) is officially set to raise the curtain on its new season with a twin opening in Taipei and Tokyo on October 8, 2025 — a move that reflects the league’s expanding reach and growing stature as Asia’s premier basketball competition.
All eyes in Taiwan will be on the Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium, which will host a blockbuster doubleheader featuring some of the region’s most decorated clubs.
The action tips off with a clash between the B.LEAGUE champions Utsunomiya Brex and the P. LEAGUE+ runners-up Taipei Fubon Braves. Utsunomiya, led by veteran guard Makoto Hiejima, entered as one of Japan’s most successful franchises. The Braves, meanwhile, look to prove their resilience after falling short in a grueling seven-game finals series last season, banking on the leadership of Chinese Taipei legend Lin Chih-Chieh.
The second game of the night brings a rematch between the P. LEAGUE+ champions Taoyuan Pauian Pilots and Japan’s Ryukyu Golden Kings. Their last encounter came in the 2025 EASL Final Four semifinals, where Taoyuan stunned Ryukyu, 71–64. This time, the Golden Kings are eager for redemption, while the Pilots hope to reaffirm their place among Asia’s elite.
Game schedule (HKT):
- Utsunomiya vs. Taipei Fubon – 6:30 PM
- Taoyuan vs. Ryukyu – 8:30 PM
China came within a single basket of toppling Oceania powerhouse Australia in the FIBA Asia Cup final, bowing 90-89 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, but sending a clear message that it remains a force in Asian basketball.
The Chinese squad, bannered by Hu Mingxuan and Hu Jinqiu, led by as many as 15 points through three quarters before faltering in the final minutes against the defending champions. Despite the heartbreaking loss, the performance was a reminder of China’s proud basketball heritage and its potential return to continental supremacy.
Gilas Pilipinas advanced to the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup quarterfinals after triumphing over host nation Saudi Arabia in a tense 95-88 overtime victory on Monday, August 11 (Tuesday, August 12 in Manila) at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.
Justin Brownlee once again showed his ‘Never Say Die’ attitude after drilling a contested three-pointer with 3.7 seconds left to force the extra period. He went on to finish with 29 points, five assists, and four rebounds, paving the way for a quarterfinal showdown with two-time defending champion Australia on Wednesday, August 13.
Brownlee’s heroics set the stage for Kevin Quiambao, who buried two triples in OT to complete a 17-point performance alongside three dimes and three deflections.
"It was a special game, it was a special performance from both teams," said head coach Tim Cone. "They (Saudi Arabia) posed a lot of problems for us, and by all rights, they had the game won — except for the guy sitting to my right (Brownlee). If you know his history, that’s not unusual. He’s been hitting big shots."
AJ Edu anchored the middle with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists, while Dwight Ramos chipped in 13 markers, 10 boards, three dimes, and a rejection.
Beyond Brownlee’s late-game magic, the Philippines secured the win by neutralizing Saudi Arabia’s high-scoring duo of Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman and Mohammed Alsuwailem in the extra frame.
Abdur-Rahkman erupted for 33 points on 8-of-14 shooting from deep, while Alsuwailem tallied 26 points, 14 rebounds, and three blocks — but the two combined for only five points in OT as Gilas closed the door on the hosts’ upset bid.
The Scores:
Philippines 95 – Brownlee 29, Edu 17, Quiambao 17, Ramos 13, Fajardo 6, Tamayo 5, Thompson 4, Newsome 4, Malonzo 0, Perez 0, Aguilar 0.
Saudi Arabia 88 – Abdur-Rahkman 33, Alsuwailem 26, Almuwallad 10, Abdel Gabar 8, Ma. Almarwani 4, Belal 3, Kadi 3, Mo. Almarwani 1, Shubayli 0.
Quarters: 25-15, 40-37, 60-59, 79-79 (reg.), 95-88 (OT).