ON MONDAY, June 17, the Collegiate Press Corp (CPC) Annual Awards Night, celebrated the greatest collegiate athletes and coaches for the 2023-2024 season.
The awards ceremony was held at the Discovery Suites Manila in Ortigas, Pasig City, and was attended by standout men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball players and coaches from UAAP Season 86 and NCAA Season 99.
Photo Courtesy: Collegiate Press Corps | Facebook
Kevin Quiambao and Kent Pastrana were standouts in the UAAP men’s and women’s collegiate basketball programs. Both guided their respective teams to a successful season and a historic championship.
Quiambao, who has made headlines both locally and internationally, was named Collegiate Men’s Basketball Player of the Year following his outstanding performance with the DLSU Green Archers.
The 6-foot-7 contemporary big man led the Taft-based squad to an end to their seven-year UAAP title drought. He was also the UAAP Season 86 MVP and Finals MVP, demonstrating how important he was this year.
The Men’s Mythical Five also included UP’s Malick Diouf, Mapua’s Clint Escamis, NCAA Rookie-MVP and Finals runner-up, Lyceum’s Enoch Valdez, and Jacob Cortez, a former San Beda Red Lion turned Green Archer.
Pastrana, a dependable player for the UST Growling Tigresses, was named the inaugural Collegiate Women’s Basketball Player of the Year.
The spitfire guard led the Growling Tigresses to a stunning upset over the then-seven-time champion NU Lady Bulldogs, ending their 17-year title drought.
Tantoy Ferrer, the Finals MVP for UST, FEU’s Josee Kaputu, UP’s Favour Onoh, and Ateneo’s Kacey dela Rosa completed the first-ever Women’s Basketball Mythical Five, joining Pastrana.
Basketball Coach of the Year awards went to Topex Robinson of the UAAP and Yuri Escueta of the NCAA. Haydee Ong, UST’s longstanding coach, was named the first Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year.
The Collegiate Volleyball Player of the Year was awarded to UAAP’s two-time league MVP NU Lady Bulldog Bella Belen and NCAA’s MVP setter CSB Lady Blazer Cloanne Mondonedo.
CPC named its first Men’s Volleyball Players of the Year to NU setter Joshua Retamar of the UAAP and UPHSD spiker Louie Ramirez of the NCAA. Both led their teams to a four-peat.
Veteran tactician Dante Alinsunurin and Norman Miguel were named the UAAP Men’s and Women’s Volleyball Coaches of the Year. Sammy Acaylar and Jerry Yee were the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Volleyball Coaches of the Year.
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