Ravena heads college hoops awardees

MANILA, Philippines—Ateneo’s rookie sensation Kiefer Ravena leads the 18 honorees as varsity stars gather at 7 Saturday night for the Collegiate Basketball Awards presented by the UAAP-NCAA Press Corps and Smart at the Gateway Suites in Cubao, Quezon City.

Cited for his achievements on and off the court, Ravena—who will receive the Smart MVP plum—joins four teammates who will be honored with individual awards for helping power the Blue Eagles to a fourth straight UAAP championship.

San Beda, winner of five NCAA titles in six seasons, will share the spotlight as Garvo Lanete (Mythical Team), Dave Marcelo (Pivotal Player) and Frankie Lim (NCAA Coach of the Year) also bagged citations.

Ateneo mentor Norman Black will pick up his fourth UAAP Coach of the Year plum while his wards Greg Slaughter (Collegiate Mythical Team), Nico Salva (Pivotal Player), Emman Monfort (Maynilad Super
Senior) and Kirk Long (Defensive Stopper) will also get recognized.

Joining Ravena, Slaughter and Lanete in the elite Collegiate Mythical Team are reigning NCAA MVP Calvin Abueva of San Sebastian and UAAP MVP Bobby Ray Parks of National University.

Far Eastern University’s RR Garcia (Court General) and Aldrech Ramos (Mr. Efficiency), San Sebastian’s Ronald Pascual (Impact Player) and Ian Sangalang (Mr. Efficiency), and Letran’s Kevin Alas (Energy Player) round up the individual winners.

San Sebastian will also receive a Distinction for Excellence after emerging as the first NCAA team to rule the Philippine
Collegiate Champions League.

Likewise getting a special recognition is University of Perpetual Help president
Anthony Tamayo in the event supported by San Miguel Corp., Antonov Mixed Drinks, Maynilad, Gatorade, Accel, 3XVI, UAAP Season 74 host Ateneo and NCAA Season 87 host Perpetual Help.