Top players, coaches feted

Malaya
October 27, 2007

GOOD SPORT and good spirit marked the 2007 Collegiate Basketball Awards presented by the UAAP and NCAA Press Corps and Anta on Thursday night at the Manila Pavilion.

"I wouldn’t be here without my players, coaching staff, the management and the La Salle community," La Salle coach Franz Pumaren said after receiving the UAAP Coach of the Year plum.

Pumaren steered the Green Archers to the 70th UAAP championship with a two-game sweep of the University of the East Red Warriors in the Finals.

Carmelita Mateo of UE, recipient of the UAAP Executive of the Year, good-naturedly said: "The award somehow soothes my broken heart that has been hit by an arrow."

Mateo, UE executive vice president and team manager, received the honor for her unwavering support and influence in forming the squad that went a historic 14-0 in the elimination round.

Letran mentor Louie Alas also felt humbled in accepting the NCAA Coach of the Year award.

"I’m really surprised with this honor even if we didn’t win the championship," said Alas, recognized for molding a team of underachievers who unexpectedly earned a Finals stint against NCAA back-to-back champion San Beda Red Lions.

San Beda got the lion’s share in individual awards with stalwart Yousif Aljamal bagging a spot in the ANTA Collegiate Mythical Team, Ogie Menor as the San Miguel Scoring Champion, Nigerian behemoth Sam Ekwe as the San Miguel Defensive Player of the Year and Mike Advani as Team Manager of the Year.

The Archers also dominated the UAAP winners led by veteran point guard TY Tang (Super Senior), JV Casio (San Miguel Scoring Champion), Cholo Villanueva (Mr. Clutch), Rico Maierhofer (Energy Player) and Hero Yu and Terry Capistrano (Team Magers of the Year).

UAAP secretary-treasure Felicitas Francisco received a special tribute for her five-decade service and contribution to the solid sports program of University of Sto. Tomas.

"This is just a fitting send-off to my retirement," said Francisco during the rites supported by the Philippine Sportswriters Association, San Miguel Corp., the Philippine Sports Commission, Harbour Centre and Hapee Toothpaste.

Joining Aljamal in the ANTA Collegiate Mythical Team were UAAP Most Valuable Player Jervy Cruz of UST, NCAA MVP Kelvin de la Peña of Mapua, UE’s Mark Borboran and Ateneo’s Chris Tiu.

"You have been given the talent in basketball, I hope you’ll put it into good use," said guest speaker Chito Loyzaga, a member of the San Beda team that won a back-to-back titles in 1977-78.

Other top varsity athletes who took home honors were Ateneo’s Ford Arao and Letran’s Bryan Faundo (Most Improved), Far Eastern U’s JR Cawaling and Mapua’s Jonathan Banal (Rookie), UE’s Paul Lee and Letran’s Rey Guevarra (Sixth Man), RJ Jazul (Mr. Clutch), Jose Rizal’s Marvin Hayes (Sixth Man), Ateneo’s Nonoy Baclao (Defensive Player), UE’s Jorel Cañizares and St. Benilde’s Kris Robles (Sportsmanship), JRU’s Vincent Fabella (Executive of the Year).

Juniors MVPs Joshua Webb of La Salle Zobel and San Sebastian’s Ryan Buenafe and juniors top rookie Kiefer Ravena of Ateneo led the high school winners.

Former UE assistant coach Gido Babilonia was honored with a Posthumous Award received by his wife Bing and children Tomi and G-boy.

The Pasco family also accepted the Posthumous Award for former abante Tonite reporter Ace Pasco.