NEWS
NBA MVP to receive Michael Jordan Trophy

December 13, 2022 10:06 p.m.
“Our new collection of trophies celebrates some of the greatest and most impactful players in the history of the NBA,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “As we recognize the league’s top performers each season, we also pay tribute to the legends who embody these prestigious awards.”
THE MICHAEL JORDAN TROPHY – Awarded to the Kia NBA Most Valuable Player:

The league’s MVP will now be awarded with The Michael Jordan Trophy, bearing the name of the NBA legend widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. During his illustrious career, Jordan was named MVP five times. The Hall of Famer also earned six NBA championships, six NBA Finals MVP Awards, 11 All-NBA Team selections, 14 NBA All-Star selections, three NBA All-Star Game MVP Awards, 10 scoring titles, an NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, an NBA Rookie of the Year Award and selections to the NBA’s 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams.
Mark Smith, retired VP of Innovation Special Projects at Nike, Inc., and Jordan Brand designer, worked in creative partnership with Jordan to design the new trophy, which symbolizes an NBA player’s journey to winning an MVP. Smith has collaborated with Jordan on countless projects over the past two decades. Artist Victor Solomon will manufacture the trophy on a yearly basis.
The bronze trophy features a player breaking out of a rock to reach for the ultimate rock – a crystal basketball. From the bottom to its top, the patina of the trophy grows more burnished – “raw to refined” – signifying the MVP’s hard work and progression from entering the league to achieving the NBA’s greatest individual honor. The trophy’s reach symbolizes an MVP’s endless chase for greatness.
Additionally included throughout are subtle nods that pay tribute to the trophy’s namesake:
- The trophy stands 23.6 inches tall and weighs 23.6 pounds, representing Jordan’s jersey number (23) and number of NBA championships (6).
- Its five-sided base is a nod to Jordan’s five league MVPs.
- The namesake badge is six-sided, a nod to Jordan’s six NBA championships.
- The 15-degree angle of the base is a nod to Jordan’s 15-season career.
- The crystal basketball consists of 23 points, a nod to Jordan’s jersey number.
- The crystal basketball measures 1.23 inches in diameter, in reference to the singularity of the MVP and Jordan’s standout career.
“I’m incredibly honored to have created the NBA’s MVP trophy in partnership with Michael Jordan,” said Smith. “Sculpting Michael’s vision of his own pursuit of athletic achievement into this award has been the opportunity and challenge of a lifetime. As we worked together on this project, it was very important to Michael that the figure not be a likeness of him, but instead that the recipient should be able to see himself in the award. For Michael, naming the award in his honor was recognition enough.”
THE JERRY WEST TROPHY – Awarded to the Kia NBA Clutch Player of the Year:

The NBA will introduce a new Kia Performance Award at the end of the 2022-23 season, the Kia NBA Clutch Player of the Year, with its recipient receiving The Jerry West Trophy.
Voted on by a media panel based on nominations from NBA head coaches, the award will honor the NBA player who best comes through for his teammates in the clutch.
Legendary Los Angeles Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn gave West the nickname “Mr. Clutch” for his extraordinary shooting at the end of close games. West is an NBA champion, 14-time NBA All-Star, NBA Finals MVP, NBA All-Star Game MVP, 12-time All-NBA Team selection and a member of the 35th, 50th and 75th NBA Anniversary Teams. During the 1971-72 season, West led the Lakers to a record 33 consecutive regular-season victories and an NBA championship.
The trophy features an NBA player shooting a jump shot, modeled after West’s perfect form.
“There are few greater thrills as a basketball player than coming through for your teammates and fans when they need it most,” said West, Special Advisor, LA Clippers. “This new trophy will be awarded to the player who best delivers in those moments.”
The Jerry West Trophy, as well as the following newly designed trophies awarded to the Kia Performance Award winners, were designed in collaboration with Solomon. The trophies all feature an embedment inside a 15-inch crystal net structure. The front face is flat to allow for a direct line of sight to the icon, and the etching of the award and recipient is detailed at the bottom.
“While working alongside the NBA to reimagine the league’s trophy offerings, our singular goal was to create a cohesive collection of honors worthy of the athletes who raise them,” said Solomon. “These trophies celebrate the hard work of the players who reach the pinnacle of individual excellence while honoring the NBA legends who have defined that greatness.”
THE HAKEEM OLAJUWON TROPHY – Awarded to the Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year:
Defensive dominance helped define Hakeem Olajuwon’s Hall of Fame career. A two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and nine-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection, Olajuwon is the league’s all-time leader in blocked shots and ranks ninth in steals. He is also a two-time NBA champion, 12-time NBA All-Star, league MVP, two-time NBA Finals MVP, 12-time All-NBA Team selection and a member of the NBA’s 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams.
The trophy features a player in a classic defensive stance with one hand up and one down, knees bent and ready to move.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to celebrate the league’s best defensive player each year,” said Olajuwon. “Great basketball teams are defined by their ability to defend, with every great team connected by an elite defensive anchor.”
THE WILT CHAMBERLAIN TROPHY – Awarded to the Kia NBA Rookie of the Year:
Wilt Chamberlain’s 1959-60 season is unmatched for an NBA rookie. Chamberlain averaged 37.6 points and 27.0 rebounds in 46.4 minutes per game for the Philadelphia Warriors, winning both the Rookie of the Year and MVP awards. His career highlights include two NBA championships, 13 NBA All-Star selections, four league MVPs, 10 All-NBA Team selections, an NBA Finals MVP and inclusion on the league’s 35th, 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams.
The trophy features a player palming two basketballs at once.
“We are humbled and thankful that the NBA has immortalized Wilt’s greatness with this honor,” said Barbara Chamberlain Lewis, Wilt’s sister, and the Chamberlain family. “Wilt rewrote nearly every NBA record throughout his illustrious career, which tipped off with an incredible rookie season that redefined what was possible and set a ceiling as high as he stood for all rookies who have followed.”
THE JOHN HAVLICEK TROPHY – Awarded to the Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year:
John Havlicek starred in his role during his Hall of Fame career, excelling off the bench like no player before him. Havlicek came off the bench for the first seven seasons of his career and was an All-Star in four of those seasons. His career highlights include eight NBA championships, 13 NBA All-Star selections, 11 All-NBA Team selections, an NBA Finals MVP, eight NBA All-Defensive Team selections and inclusion on the league’s 35th, 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams.
The trophy features a player elevated and shooting a running jumper, symbolic of the boost provided by the player to his team.
“We are honored that the NBA recognized John’s career achievements with this award,” said Beth Havlicek, John’s wife, and the Havlicek family. “John defined what it means to be the ultimate sixth man, with his leadership and stellar play serving as the utmost example of effectively starring in a role for the betterment of the team.”
THE GEORGE MIKAN TROPHY – Awarded to the Kia NBA Most Improved Player of the Year:
A layup and footwork exercise known as the “Mikan Drill” has been used for decades by players at all levels to improve their game. It is named for George Mikan, who mastered the fundamentals as the NBA’s first dominant big man. His Hall of Fame career included five NBA championships in seven seasons, four NBA All-Star selections, an NBA All-Star Game MVP, six selections to the All-NBA Team and inclusion on the NBA’s 25th, 35th, 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams.
“We are grateful that the NBA has recognized George’s career achievements with this honor,” said Mike Mikan, son of George Mikan #99, and the Mikan family. “George is one of the best NBA players ever, but perhaps his greatest legacy is the one he has passed down to others through his legendary ‘Mikan Drill,’ providing generations of basketball players around the world with the tools to improve their game.”
Today’s announcement builds on Kia America’s support of the NBA’s performance award platform for the past 15 seasons.
NEWS
Converge named finalist for NPC’s Privacy Initiative of the Year Award

5:25 p.m. June 11, 2025
Leading fiber broadband and technology provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. was listed among the finalists for the 2025 Privacy Initiative of the Year at the National Privacy Commission’s (NPC) Privacy Awareness Week (PAW) Awards, in recognition of its innovative program, Project PIGLET (Privacy Integration through Guided Learning of Emerging Technologies).
The program aims to enhance digital literacy and privacy awareness among primary school students, emphasizing the critical importance of safeguarding personal information in today’s increasingly digital world.
“In a world where people are always online, Project PIGLET is important for teaching kids about privacy and data protection. We are proud that the NPC sees our work in helping build a safer and smarter digital community from the ground up. We remain committed to continuing this movement so that protecting privacy becomes a lifelong habit for all,” said Converge Corporate Compliance and Data Protection Officer Atty. Laurice Esteban-Tuason.
Every year, the NPC recognizes stakeholders for their compliance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (DPA) through the PAW Awards and inspires privacy advocates to deepen their commitment to data protection.
Under Project PIGLET, Converge – with the help of its Corporate Governance and Data Privacy (CGDP) Group – hosts engaging storytelling sessions in primary schools, where students, teachers, and parents learn about data protection through the adventures of ‘Astro Kids’ in the ‘Internet Universe.’
The narrative highlights the dangers of sharing personal information with deceptive online entities in the guise of friendship.
With the guidance of Captain Conrad, the Astro Kids impart crucial lessons on vigilance in cyberspace and encourage young participants to report suspected incidents to their guardians.
Previously, the company visited Francisco Legaspi Memorial School in Pasig and Anunas Elementary School in Angeles, Pampanga for Project PIGLET, inviting pupils in Grades 2 to 6 in age-appropriate discussions on digital literacy, and responsible online behavior.
Converge intends to expand the information drive by introducing new approaches and engaging more students across all academic levels in an effort to broaden the campaign’s reach throughout the country. ###
NEWS
8 steps to secure industrial enterprises

5:20 p.m. June 10, 2025
Industrial sectors such as power and utilities, energy and chemicals, metals and mining and critical manufacturing are becoming increasingly vulnerable to cyber threats, in fact industrial enterprises experienced more incidents than any other, with a 25.7% share in 2024 according to the Kaspersky MDR team.
The importance of cyber resilience in these industries cannot be overstated, as cyberattacks can lead to operational disruptions, financial losses and compromised safety. Yet, according to the World Economic Forum only 19% of cyber leaders feel confident that their organizations are cyberresilient.
Those fears are rooted in the knowledge that threat levels are rising everywhere. Global analyst and advisory firm Omdia found that 80% of manufacturing firms experienced a notable increase in overall security incidents or breaches last year, but only 45% are adequately prepared in their cybersecurity.
Why cyber resilience matters
One of the most critical aspects of cyber resilience is maintaining business continuity. Cyberattacks have the potential to cripple operations, causing significant delays and financial setbacks. The effects of a cyberattack can be felt far and wide such as power outages, safety incidents and environmental emergencies. However, organizations that prioritize cyber resilience can quickly recover from incidents, minimizing downtime and ensuring essential functions remain operational. Proactive business continuity planning is key, as it enables companies to prepare for potential cyber threats and ensure that disruptions do not lead to prolonged or catastrophic consequences.
Another hugely important reason for greater cyber resilience is its role in protecting sensitive data and preserving an organization’s reputation. Industrial enterprises manage vast amounts of sensitive data, making them prime targets for cybercriminals. A successful attack can lead to data breaches, intellectual property theft and significant reputational damage. Additionally, many industries must comply with stringent data protection regulations, and so a comprehensive cyber resilience strategy helps organizations stay compliant and avoid costly legal consequences.
Industrial control systems are particularly vulnerable, as they form the backbone of essential industrial processes. Cyber resilience ensures these systems remain secure, reliable and functional even when faced with persistent threats. Additionally, as industrial enterprises increasingly integrate connected products and digital technologies, the need to protect these interconnected systems from cyberattacks becomes even more pressing.
Financial loss is arguably the greatest concern when it comes to cyber threats though. A single cyberattack can result in substantial financial repercussions, including direct losses from theft, recovery costs, regulatory fines and lost business opportunities. A well-structured cybersecurity strategy can lead to lower insurance premiums by demonstrating a proactive approach to cyber risk mitigation. Additionally, organizations that invest in cyber resilience are better equipped to optimize their operations, ensuring that productivity and efficiency are maintained even in the face of emerging cyber threats.
Kaspersky is on the front line, protecting more than 1,000 industrial customers and has extensive experience in helping industrial organizations in adopting international standards and best practices. Calling on this expertise, Kaspersky has defined the following eight strategic steps that apply universally to automation systems:
- Inventory: Asset Management
Begin by building or updating your asset inventory. Account for systems, software, hardware, network segments, conduits, communication paths and devices to understand what must be secured. If you can’t monitor a part of your infrastructure – or aren’t even aware it exists and could be attacked – you can’t protect it. This comprehensive inventory ensures all valuable assets are secured.
- Assess: Detailed Risk Assessment
Conduct a detailed risk assessment to understand the current risk level within your organization, considering potential threat vectors and existing or planned countermeasures. This assessment helps prioritize investments and prevent potentially catastrophic disruptions.
- Secure: Essential Security
Implement essential security measures, such as endpoint protection, to safeguard operations. This involves creating security baselines aimed at maintaining and protecting operational OT system integrity while detecting, blocking and remediating cyber threats.
- Detect: Threat and Anomaly Detection
Implement threat and anomaly detection to identify threats early and understand how attacks develop, enabling quick responses to avoid disruption and continually strengthen your security posture.
- Audit: Security Audits and Compliance
Conduct regular security audits and focus on compliance to build a realistic picture of your organizational cybersecurity. These systematic evaluations ensure alignment with criteria and benchmarks, improving adherence to best practices and resulting in robust systems.
- Enhance: Zones and Conduits
Enhance your network architecture by organizing and protecting it through zones and conduits. Zones group networks, devices and services based on function and criticality, while conduits represent communication paths that unite zones or connect them to external networks.
- Monitor: Mature Security Operations
Develop a mature Security Operations Center (SOC) with proactive and contextual analysis capabilities to manage complex attacks. Continually evolve your SOC capability with threat intelligence and incident response features to swiftly investigate, contain and mitigate threats.
- Prepare: Fault Tolerance and Readiness
Guarantee fault tolerance by stress-testing your infrastructure through exercises that simulate large-scale cyberattacks. This preparation ensures that your industrial control systems can withstand and recover from cyber incidents without compromising operational continuity. People are an organization’s greatest asset, but they also a point of potential vulnerability, employers should be trained on a regular basis.
NEWS
Kollab lauded as The Best Small Workplace in the Philippines by Great Place to Work®

8:44 p.m. June 9, 2025
Kollab is shaping the future of Filipino IT talent through a workplace culture that continues to set the standard.
The premier digital transformation advisor has once again been named at the #1 Best Workplace in the Philippines among small enterprises (30-99 employees) by Great Place to Work®, earning the distinction for the second straight year and securing a spot as the #4 Best Workplace™ in Asia.
In the Philippines, Kollab topped the Top 10 list after 99% of Kollab’s employees said the company was a great place to work, a stark contrast to the national average of 65%.
Jonathan Ty, Kollab’s CCO and Head of Business Development, shares, “At Kollab, culture isn’t just a buzzword—it’s how we operate. We believe that embracing a people-first approach is the key to creating the next generation of Filipino tech leaders. We’ve seen the immense potential of Filipinos in driving tech innovation, and we cultivate that with a collaborative culture that balances positive growth results with workplace flexibility and employee wellness.”
Kollab’s success lies in its deeply collaborative culture. During its recent acquisition of local AI firm Senti AI, teams were directly involved in shaping strategy and integrating cultures –– a move that reinforced Kollab’s pro-employee initiatives. Employees also get to lead projects and receive constant feedback, creating a continuous loop of growth and innovation. The company also promotes a remote-first work arrangement, mental health breaks, no-meeting days, learning stipends, and a peer-run training program.
Kollab’s collaborative workplace environment has driven the company’s growth in Southeast Asia as it now serves over 1,100 organizations in the region. It has expanded its portfolio to include more complex tech solutions in cloud computing, AI, and cybersecurity. Kollab also launched Managed Security Services to help enterprises implement continuous threat exposure management and real-time protection and response.
Kollab plans to double its tech talent pool and strengthen its employee empowerment initiatives in the coming years. It has launched AI and cybersecurity bootcamps, invested in professional certifications, and formed partnerships with leading technology firms in line with its pursuit of building a future-ready workforce.
For more information about Kollab and the company’s people-first initiatives, visit https://www.kollab.com/ and follow its LinkedIN page at https://www.linkedin.com/company/kollabph/.