Trollano’s hard work, hustle get rewarded

As one of the spearheads of San Miguel Beer’s bench mob, Don Trollano’s effort has finally paid off.

The 33-year-old guard will be recognized as Mr. Quality Minutes when the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Press Corps holds its 31st Annual Awards Night on 13 October at the Novotel Manila.

Trollano averaged 9.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists coming off the bench for the Beermen and was one of the major players in San Miguel regaining the Philippine Cup championship in Season 49.

He became the sixth Beerman to be bestowed with the honor that is equivalent to the Sixth Man of the Year award.

Past recipients of the award from San Miguel include Bong Alvarez, the late Boybits Victoria, Chris Calaguio, Terrence Romeo and Jericho Cruz.

Sharing the spotlight with Trollano during the gala night are members of the All-Rookie Team led by Rookie of the Year winner RJ Abarrientos of Barangay Ginebra.

Joining Abarrientos in the team are fellow Rookie of the Year official candidates Sedrick Barefield (Blackwater), Caelan Tiongson (Rain or Shine), Kai Ballungay (Phoenix), and the duo of Jordan Heading (TNT/Converge) and Justine Baltazar (Converge).

Heading and Baltazar came short of the percentage of games (70-percent) they’re required to play in their respective team’s games but made a huge impact for them to be considered for the award being handed out by the men and women who regularly cover the PBA beat.

The 6-foot-9 Baltazar, the No. 1 overall pick in last season’s draft, averaged a double-double of 12.2 points and 10.1 rebounds, while dishing off 2.2 assists for the FiberXers, who came close to making a first ever semis stint during the Governors’ Cup and Commissioner’s Cup.

Heading, who belonged to Rookie Class of 2020, meanwhile, normed 15.5 points, 4.8 assists, and 4.2 rebounds while splitting time playing for Converge (Commissioner’s Cup) and TNT (Philippine Cup) as he made his long-awaited debut in the league.

The Filipino-Australian guard was a leading contender for the Best Player of the Conference during the mid-season tournament, and then played in his first ever PBA Finals with the Tropang 5G during the All-Filipino conference.

Named awardees earlier by the Press Corps are Arvin Tolentino (Scoring Champion) and Calvin Oftana (Order of Merit).