PBA comm named 'Mr. Executive' by press corps

Commissioner Willie Marcial will be cited for his leadership to keep the PBA season alive amid the pandemic. PBA Images (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--The PBA's chief executive is this year's "Mr. Executive" by the league's press corps.

The people reporting the PBA beat announced on Thursday that Commissioner Willie Marcial will be awarded as the past season's top executive during the PBA Press Corps Awards Night on Sunday.

"Marcial, strong-minded and firm in his decisions, managed to navigate a troubled season into safe waters and put a fitting end to what had been the most challenging period in the history of Asia's first ever play-for-pay league," the PBA Press Corps said in a statement.

The COVID-19 pandemic put the PBA season in peril as until now, the number of Filipino cases increases in bunches as the days pass.

But Marcial heeded to the call of some of adopting a bubble format similar to that of the NBA just for the PBA's supposed landmark 45th season to push through.

He then called up 17 of the league's staff members to be the main manpower of the PBA bubble in Angeles.

The said staff members will also be given a special citation in the said awarding ceremony.

Marcial will be honored alongside PBA board chairman Ricky Vargas, the previous winner of the Executive of the Year award, in the joint awards night for the last two seasons.

The PBA Press Corps is expected to name the Outstanding Coach of the Bubble over the weekend.

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