Ateneo keeps crack core: Slaughter shelves pro plan, rejoins Blue Eagles
Ateneo coach Norman Black (UAAP Coach of the Year) and San Beda mentor Frankie Lim (NCAA coach of the Year) receive their citations in the Collegiate Basketball Awards presented by the UAAP and NCAA Press Corps and SMART on Saturday night at the Gateway Suites.
MANILA, Philippines—A formidable core returns for Ateneo this year with the seven-foot standout Greg Slaughter deciding to put his pro plans on hold.
“Next season we should be pretty good since Greg Slaughter has decided to come back,” Ateneo coach Norman Black announced after receiving the UAAP Coach of the Year plum.
“[This award] just reflects the hard work of the players in Ateneo.”
Black shared coaching honors with NCAA counterpart Frankie Lim of San Beda in the Collegiate Basketball Awards presented by the UAAP-NCAA Press Corps and Smart on Saturday night at the Gateway Suites.
Ateneo’s rookie sensation Kiefer Ravena also bagged the Smart MVP award both for his stellar collegiate debut and social contributions.
“This award is very precious because it recognizes not only my talent on the court but also my actions off court,” said Ravena, who successfully organized a charity game recently for the Cagayan de Oro victims of Tropical Storm “Sendong.”
“It constantly reminds me to just be the person that I am and that not everything in life is about basketball.”
Ravena and the pro-ready Slaughter also earned spots in the Collegiate Mythical Team together with reigning UAAP MVP Bobby Ray Parks of National University, San Beda’s Garvo Lanete and San Sebastian’s Calvin Abueva.
The Blue Eagles—poised to build a varsity dynasty after capturing their fourth straight UAAP crown last year—had the most awardees with Nico Salva (Pivotal Player), Kirk Long (Defensive Stopper) and Emman Monfort (Maynilad Super Senior) also earning citations.
Far Eastern University’s RR Garcia (Court General), Letran’s Kevin Alas (Energy Player) and Perpetual Help president Anthony Tamayo (Special Recognition) also copped individual honors.
Lim said that this early, his back-to-back champion Lions are similarly priming up for their third straight title bid.
“We have a lot of players who are graduating, so we’re trying to get more games to prepare for next season,” said Lim, whose wards are now seeing action in the Sinulog Cup in Cebu.
The annual awards night, organized by print and online sportswriters covering the varsity beat, was also backed by Gatorade, San Miguel Corporation, Antonov Mixed Drinks, Maynilad, Accel, 3XVI, UAAP Season 74 host Ateneo and NCAA Season 87 host Perpetual Help.
