Champs League honors top hoops achievers

Five-time NCAA champion San Beda and new UAAP king National University were honored for their outstanding performances during the Philippine Collegiate Champions League 2014 Awards dubbed as “A Toast” yesterday.

The Red Lions received the Manuel V. Pangilinan bronze perpetual trophy a month after ruling the nationwide collegiate tournament by sweeping La Salle in the best-of-three Finals.

“It is a fitting climax to their five-peat championship in the NCAA,” said PCCL chair Rey Gamboa during the awarding ceremony at ELJ building at ABS-CBN compound in Quezon City.

NU forward Glenn Khobuntin received the Model National Collegiate Player for 2014, the highest honor given to the player who showed exemplary conduct on and off court.

San Beda guard Baser Amer, who helped the Lions become just the second NCAA team to rule the tournament, also earned the Game-Changer Award for his exceptional play.

The Bulldogs, who nailed their first UAAP crown in 60 years, copped the Breakthrough Performance citation together with first-time NCAA finalist Arellano University and Southern Luzon winner Naga College Foundation.

“They exceeded expectations,” said Gamboa.

University of the Visayas won the Grinder Award for working its way up the tournament from the stepladder phase in the Visayas all the way to a third place overall finish.

Given the Hospitality Award for hosting the games in different parts of the country were the Sports Association of Negros Oriental, Lyceum Northwestern University in Dagupan, the Naga City local government and the First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities (Faith) in Tanuan, Batangas.