Dela Rosa clinches PCCL’s Model Player award

MANILA, Philippines — His exemplary showing on and off the court earned him the highest individual honor in the post-season awards of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL).

Rome dela Rosa, the San Beda skipper who played a key role in the Red Lions’ fourth straight NCAA title romp, bagged the Model National Collegiate Player of 2013 in the ceremony dubbed “A Toast” Monday at ELJ building of the ABS-CBN complex in Quezon City.

“He completed his education and at the same time contributed to his team,” PCCL chair Rey Gamboa said of Dela Rosa, the first NCAA player to receive the honor.

“This award is given to the player who served as a model in terms of academic performance and sportsmanship.”

Veteran University of Santo Tomas guard Clark Bautista earned an honorable mention.

“I know a lot of players who can receive this as well and I want to share it to the other seniors who are doing their best to be student-athletes,” said Dela Rosa.

Previous winners of the Model Player award were Ateneo’s Noy Baclao (2009), Kirk Long (2011) and Nico Salva (2012), and University of Cebu’s June Mar Fajardo (2010).

La Salle also formally received the bronze perpetual championship trophy after ruling the nationwide varsity tournament last December, just a couple of months after capturing the UAAP men’s basketball crown.

The feat made the Green Archers, who swept Cebu’s Southwestern University in the title series, the only third team to rule the PCCL on the same year it reigned in its mother league.

Coach Juno Sauler accepted the award for the Archers who also came with high school star Prince Rivero in tow.

Rivero, the reigning NCAA juniors MVP from La Salle Green Hills, has committed to play for the Archers.

La Salle’s top patron Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco was also feted with the Chairman’s Special Merit Award for helping the Archers “evolve into a topnotch team.”

University of the East (Grinder Award), Iloilo Doctors College and Lyceum of Subic Bay (Breakthrough Performers), SWU (Rising Star), Vigan’s University of Northern Philippines, Basketball Intercollegiate Championship of Sorsogon and University of Southern Mindanao (Hospitality Award) and First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities (Best Host).