The brightest stars of collegiate sports. Kennedy Caacbay, ABS-CBN News
MANILA, Philippines – The best student-athletes and mentors from the 2024-25 collegiate sports season were celebrated at the Collegiate Press Corps' Annual Awards Night on Monday, June 30, at the Discovery Suites Manila in Ortigas, Pasig.
Before the festivities began, the event observed a moment of silence to pay tribute to the late Ashlyn Abong, who passed away days ago during training at National University, and distinguished tactician Sammy Acaylar, who had passed away earlier this year.
Bannering the pack is CPC Men’s Basketball Player of the Year Clint Escamis of Mapua University, who also joined the Mythical Team.
Escamis previously led the Cardinals to a breakthrough NCAA title, ending a 33-year drought, after sweeping College of St. Benilde in the Season 100 Finals.
Along with Escamis are UAAP Finals MVP JD Cagulangan of UP, two-time UAAP Season MVP Kevin Quiambao, his La Salle teammate Mike Phillips, and NCAA MVP and Defensive Player of the Year Allen Liwag of Benilde.
READ: Escamis, Quiambao headline Collegiate Press Corps' Mythical Team
The UAAP players weren't able to attend physically the event, as Escamis and Liwag took the stage as they personally accepted their awards.
Ateneo de Manila University's Kacey dela Rosa is the CPC Women’s Basketball Player of the Year for her back-to-back MVP nods in the UAAP, also steering the Blue Eagles to a third straight Final Four appearance.
READ: Ateneo's Kacey dela Rosa leads Collegiate Women's Basketball Mythical Team
Joining the Women's Mythical Team with Dela Rosa are UAAP Rookie of the Year and Finals MVP Cielo Pagdulagan of National University, Kent Pastrana of University of Santo Tomas, Louna Ozar of University of the Philippines, and Elaine Etang of Adamson University.
UP’s Goldwin Monteverde was named UAAP Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year after guiding the Fighting Maroons to the mountaintop once more while Mapua mentor Randy Alcantara is his counterpart in the NCAA.
UAAP Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year is NU’s Aris Dimaunahan, who made sure to remember the late Abong during his acceptance speech.
READ: Ashlyn Abong of Gilas Girls, NU Lady Bullpups passes away
"It's a very difficult week for all of us, we have lost a beloved one, our sister and teammate," Dimaunahan said, paying tribute to the Lady Bullpup.
Bella Belen, as expected, was honored as the UAAP Women’s Volleyball Player of the Year after concluding her collegiate run with three Season MVPs and three titles.
Leo Aringo, also from the Jhocson-based school, was Belen's men's counterpart.
Benilde’s Zam Nolasco is the recipient of the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Player of the Year, while Finals MVP Carl Berdal of Arellano was proclaimed the NCAA Men's Volleyball Player of the Year.
NU mentor Dante Alinsunurin and Sherwin Meneses are this year’s UAAP Men’s and Women’s Volleyball Coaches, respectively, as Arellano’s Bryan Vitug and Benilde’s Jerry Yee were also acknowledged as the NCAA's top men's and women's maestros.
READ: UAAP, NCAA standout players and coaches to be feted by Collegiate Press Corps in Awards Night
For the first time, the exemplary standouts from football were also recognized during the yearly event organized by journalists from both print and online media.
The inaugural Football Players of the Year are Far Eastern University’s Mon Diansuy and Carmela Altiche, together with Amir Aningalan of San Beda University.
A Special Citation Award was also given to NCAA for its century-long excellence in Philippine sports.