The PBA, through the PBA Press Corps, recently announced that it is naming the PBA Finals MVP trophy after Ramon Fernandez.
Fernandez was naturally appreciative, noting how the gesture is a fitting reminder of a “lifetime shaped by the league [PBA].”
“To have the PBA Finals MVP trophy bear my name, especially in this 50th year, the Golden Anniversary of the Philippine Basketball Association, is something I never imagined yet will forever treasure,” Fernandez said in a statement after the PBA Press Corps announced the change on Thursday. “This is more than a personal recognition. It is a reminder of a lifetime shaped by the league that gave me purpose, pride, and a second family.”
A Long-Overdue Recognition for Ramon Fernandez
In truth, the PBA didn’t just rename an award. It finally told the truth.
By naming the PBA Finals MVP after Ramon Fernandez, the league paid tribute to a player whose greatness was never loud and never flashy but was never in question. Fernandez wasn’t just a champion. He was the standard. And even now, he remains the yardstick for winning, as he is still the winningest player in PBA history with 19 championships.
In an era before pace-and-space and stat-padding, Fernandez dominated through control, intelligence, and an unmatched feel for the game. He didn’t chase moments. He defined them. Finals games slowed down when he was on the floor because he decided when they would. He gave his teams the ultimate advantage: a fearless maestro unmatched in his playmaking and grace under pressure. He won championships because he was one of one, a singular talent who could do it all.
That is exactly what a Finals MVP should represent.
Fernandez won championships across multiple teams, systems, and roles. He adapted, endured, and delivered when it mattered most. If the Finals are about proving who truly rises under pressure, then his name belongs on that trophy more than anyone else’s.
A Legacy That Spans Generations
Of course, Fernandez’s name won’t be in the record books when it comes to PBA Finals MVPs. He never won one, in fact. But that’s only because the PBA started awarding Finals MVPs in 1996, with Jojo Lastimosa as the first-ever winner. By then, Fernandez had already retired—but only after creating a lasting legacy not only in the PBA but also in local hoops in general. If the award were given since the league’s inception in 1975, best believe that Ramon Fernandez would’ve won his fair share—perhaps 10, or maybe even 19! That’s how good he was.
Unfortunately, today’s younger generation of fans won’t be able to fully grasp the legend of Ramon Fernandez. They will never fully understand the greatness of El Presidente. And that is why this move by the PBA Press Corps is both timely and absolutely the right decision. It is a move that honors an icon and, at the same time, bridges generations. For younger fans, it’s an invitation to learn. For older ones, it’s overdue recognition. The award now carries history, weight, and meaning—not just a title handed out after the confetti falls.
The PBA has struggled at times to honor its past while pushing forward. This time, it got it right.
Every Finals MVP winner from here on out won’t just win an award. He’ll be measured against Ramon Fernandez.
And that’s exactly how it should be.
