COLLINS Akowe (middle) banners the Men’s Basketball Mythical Five during the 2026 CPC Press Corps Awards Night on Monday. Also shown are Ralph Villanueva, Andre Santos, John Kennedy Caacbay and Juri Marasigan who recieved the trophies on behalf of other awardees.
Photograph courtesy of CPC
Good things come to those who least expect it.
Mike Phillips and Kent Pastrana were equivocal in preaching that after being named as the Basketball Players of the Year at the 2026 Collegiate Press Corps (CPC) Awards Night presented by Strong Group Athletics on Monday at Discovery Suites in Ortigas.
Phillips, the former De La Salle University star who is now with the Gilas Pilipinas squad that is preparing for the third window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers in New Zealand, glorified God for the latest achievement in his still young career.
“It’s not by my strength but only by His spirit,” said Phillips via video message.
Pastrana agrees, saying that he is thankful for the recognition handed out by the men and women from print and online news outlets covering the collegiate beat.
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“I didn’t really ask for this. I just played, and I’m happy that I was given the opportunity to fulfill my dreams,” Pastrana.
Phillips and Pastrana, both two-time University Athletic Association of the Philippines champions, spearheaded the roll call of awardees.
Joining Phillips in the Men’s Basketball Mythical Five were University of Santo Tomas’ Collins Akowe, Letran College’s Titing Manalili, San Beda University’s Janti Miller, and Far Eastern University’s (FEU) Janrey Pasaol; while with Pastrana in the Women’s Basketball Mythical Team were fellow Growling Tigress Brigette Santos, the National University (NU) pair of Karl Ann Pingol and Tin Cayabyab, and Ateneo de Manila University’s Kacey dela Rosa.
Dela Rosa was also given a Special Citation for her travails as part of the Gilas Pilipinas Women’s team, furthering the gaudy trophy collection for the soft-spoken center.
La Salle’s Angel Canino and NU’s Leo Ordiales were feted as University Athletic Association of the Philippines Volleyball Players of the Year, while Letran’s Lara Mae Silva and College of Saint Benilde’s Reymark Betco were hailed as National Collegiate Athletic Association Volleyball Players of the Year.
University of the Philippines’ Ramil Bation, FEU’s Regine Rebosura, and San Beda’s Mark Pellejo were also named as Football Players of the Year.
