MANILA, Philippines—With arguably two of the Philippines’ top collegiate leagues sharing the spotlight, and a handful of elite players between them, only one player should be known as the top gun.
In a night that the chroniclers of the NCAA and the UAAP dedicated to the young future of Philippine basketball, Kiefer Ravena of the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles rose from the heap and was named as the Smart Player of the Year.
“I’m thankful for the award and I’m happy for it,” Rthe UAAP Season 77 Most Valuable Player said Thursday evening at the Dad’s Kamayan Saisaki restaurant along Edsa.
Ravena was the main man of the five best collegiate players that included NCAA MVP Earl Scottie Thompson of the University of Perpetual Help Altas, Jeron Teng of the De La Salle University Green Archers, Mac Belo of the Far Eastern University Tamaraws and Ola Adeogun of the San Beda College Red Lions.
Also, two coaches who carved their names in history in different ways were also honored, San Beda head coach Boyet Fernandez and National University head coach Eric Altamirano.
Altamirano spearheaded the magnificent fairy tale story of the NU Bulldogs to the top of the UAAP parquet floor as they won the Season 77 Basketball title after the school last won in 1954.
“I hope we get to celebrate this championship for 60 more years,” Altamirano said.
Fernandez, on the other hand, mentored the red pride to a fifth straight NCAA title, two of which was from his own handiwork.
“To all the media that supported us through the hardships and triumph, thank you,” Fernandez said.
As the core group of writers that detail the NCAA and UAAP day-in and day-out, the UAAP-NCAA Press Corps also gave recognition to three players who earned their spurs in the collegiate leagues.
Glenn Khobuntin of the NU Bulldogs, Kyle Pascual of the San Beda Red Lions and Almmond Vosotros of the De La Salle Green Archers were coined as the Super Seniors for their important roles in their different teams which they played for in five years.
It’s also worth mentioning that the three did not only play for five years, Khobuntin, Vosotros and Pascual were all champions with the UAAP guys winning it one apiece and the NCAA forward playing an important role in all of San Beda’s five championships in the five-peat.
Gelo Alolino of the NU Bulldogs and Jiovani Jalalon of the Arellano University Chiefs were also recognized as the UAAP Impact Player and the NCAA Impact Player respectively.
Alolina, who was the floor general of NU for four years, led his Cinderella crew and was the unquestioned leader of the Bulldogs as they finally broke the 60-year-old curse that the school has suffered in the UAAP.
Jalalon, meanwhile, emerged as a spitfire scorer for the surprising and offensive force of the Arellano University which ran its way to the NCAA Finals but would eventually fall short against the San Beda dynasty.
Both Finals MVP’s in their respective leagues, Anthony Semerad of San Beda and Alfred Aroga of NU were named as the NCAA Pivotal Player and UAAP Pivotal Player respectively.
Semerad delivered a performance for the ages with 30 points in the closing game of the NCAA Finals against Arellano while Aroga was the alpha dog for NU with 24 points and 18 rebounds in the third game of the UAAP Finals.
Finally, the UAAP-NCAA Press Corps awarded two players who stood out and excelled in their money-makers.
San Beda point guard Baser Amer was awarded with the Accel NCAA Court General trophy as the diminutive playmaker called the shots for the big red machine in their five-peat bid.
NU forward Troy Rosario was exemplary in his inside-out game that proved vital for the Bulldogs and was given the Doctor J Breakthrough Player trophy.
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