4 vying for Dalupan trophy

Veterans Leo Austria and Tim Cone, along with young guns Nash Racela and Chito Victolero, emerged as the leading candidates for the Virgilio ‘Baby’ Dalupan Coach of the Year honor which serves as the highlight of the 24th PBAPC (Philippine Basketball Association Press Corps) Awards Night on Nov. 30 at the Gloria Maris Restaurant of the Gateway Mall in Cubao.

Austria and Cone though, shared between themselves the three conference titles at stake. The San Miguel coach led the Beermen to the Philippine Cup and Commissioner’s Cup championships respectively, before his Barangay Ginebra counterpart spoiled Austria’s bid for a grand slam by steering the Kings to the season-ending Governors Cup crown.

Austria has won Coach of the Year honor the past two seasons, while Cone is a three-time winner of the award named after the late great former Crispa, Great Taste, and Purefoods coach.

Racela and Victolero also accounted themselves well as first time coaches of TnT Katropa and Star, respectively, by guiding their teams to all three conference semifinals last season, with Racela earning a first finals stint during the Commissioner’s Cup. The Coach of the Year is one of 10 awards to be handed out by the men and women who regularly cover the PBA beat during the formal affair presented by Cignal.

Also on tap are the Danny Floro Executive of the Year award named in behalf of the former Crispa team owner and the Bogs Adornado Comeback Player of the Year being held in honor of the league’s former three-time MVP and part of the PBA’s 25 Greatest Players.