The PBA Press Corps on Sunday named TNT’s Chot Reyes as the winner of the Baby Dalupan Coach of the Year for a record-extending seventh time.
Reyes was announced as the Season 49’s best coach by the group of reporters covering the PBA beat after steering TNT to championships in the Governors’ Cup and Commissioner’s Cup.
He put TNT in a position to flirt at a historic Grand Slam in the Philippine Cup, but eventually lost to San Miguel Beer in the Finals.
He will receive the honor on Monday when the Press Corps holds the 31st edition of its Awards Night at Novotel Manila in Cubao, Quezon City.
San Miguel Beer’s Leo Austria, who won the award four times, was also nominated for guiding the Beermen back to claiming the all-Filipino crown.
Reyes is just one of the many individuals from TNT who will be honored by the Press Corps in the event, which starts at 7 p.m.
Team owner Manny V. Pangilinan will be honored by the Danny Floro Executive of the Year award, which will put him in a tie with San Miguel Corporation sports director Alfrancis Chua and Elmer Yanga, the former team manager of the RFM franchise.
Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser is set to claim the Bogs Adornado Comeback Player of the Year, Calvin Oftana receiving the Order of Merit for most Player of the Week citations in Season 49 and Jordan Heading as part of the All-Rookie Team.
TNT is also sharing the award with Barangay Ginebra for Game of the Season, which is the epic Game 7 of the Commissioner’s Cup Finals that went into overtime.
Also to be honored are Magnolia’s Zavier Lucero as Defensive Player of the Year, San Miguel Beer’s Don Trollano as Mr. Quality Minutes and former NorthPort star Arvin Tolentino as Scoring Champion.
Also on the All-Rookie Team are Blackwater’s Sedrick Barefield, Rain or Shine’s Caelan Tiongson, Converge’s Justine Baltazar, Phoenix’s Kai Ballungay and Ginebra’s RJ Abarrientos.