MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Press Corps has unveiled a new trophy honoring basketball legend Ramon Fernandez, which will be awarded to the Finals MVP of the Philippine Cup.
The Ramon Fernandez Trophy features Fernandez’s likeness and includes measurements symbolizing key milestones in his career. The 19-inch-tall trophy represents the number of championships Fernandez won, while its four-inch-thick base honors the four MVP awards he earned in 1982, 1984, 1986, and 1988. Fernandez’s statue on the trophy stands 15 inches tall, commemorating his 1989 Grand Slam win with San Miguel Beer in his 15th season.
The base also reflects Fernandez’s jersey number and playing height, measuring 19 inches in circumference and 6.04 inches in diameter, respectively. PBA Press Corps officers conceptualized and finalized the design, with PBA head of statistics Fidel Mangonon III providing specifications. Raymundo’s Awards, known for producing high-quality trophies, was commissioned to create it.
San Miguel Beer and TNT are competing for the Philippine Cup title, with the Beermen currently leading the series 2-1. Fernandez has given his approval for the use of his name and likeness and will fly in from Cebu to present the trophy to the first recipient. He will also receive a duplicate trophy as a token of appreciation from the press corps, which marks the official unveiling.
The PBA Press Corps has been awarding a Finals MVP trophy since the 1996 All-Filipino Conference, when Alaska Milk’s Jojo Lastimosa became the first recipient.