VETERAN guard RJ Jazul and the thrilling Philippine Cup Game Five semifinals match between Barangay Ginebra and Meralco inside the Clark bubble will share the limelight in the virtual Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Press Corps Awards Night.
Jazul, the 34-year-old team captain of Phoenix Super LPG, will receive the Mr. Quality Minutes award for his immense contributions coming off the bench, while the Kings’ 83-80 victory over the Bolts in their do-or-die semifinal match will be named the Game of the Bubble by the men and women who regularly cover the PBA beat.
The two-in-one awards night that will also honor the 2019 awardees is set on March 7 at the TV5 Media Center and presented by Cignal TV.
The 5-foot-11 Jazul averaged 11.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 17 games during the lone conference last season. He registered a career-high 33 points he spiked with nine three-pointers in the Fuel Masters’ 110-101 win over five-time champion San Miguel Beer to clinch a berth in the quarterfinals.
The Kings, seeded No. 1, also made their presence felt following their hard-earned win over the fifth-seeded Bolts in a match marked by Scottie Thompson’s clutch three-pointer at the buzzer that sent the team to best-of-seven finals.
Jazul and the Barangay Ginebra-Meralco game are part of the distinct bubble awards to be handed out in the event to be shown on PBA Rush on March 8.
Also on the honor roll are CJ Perez (Scoring Champion) and the All-Rookie Team (Aaron Black, Arvin Tolentino, Roosevelt Adams, Barkley Ebona and Renzo Subido).
Still to be named are the Outstanding Coach of the Bubble, Mr. Executive, President’s Award, Top Bubble D-Fender, All Bubble D-Fenders and a Special Citation.
The 2019 Virgilio “Baby” Dalupan Coach of the Year Leo Austria of San Miguel Beer and Danny Floro Executive of the Year PBA Chairman Ricky Vargas lead the honorees for the previous season that also include Presidential Awardee Vergel Meneses, Bulakan Mayor and one of the PBA’s 25 Greatest Players, and Defensive Player of the Year Sean Anthony of NorthPort.