‘Buenafat’ cops Finals MVP plum

MANILA—OVERWEIGHT but still overly talented.

No other local player, perhaps, could match what Ryan Buenafe has achieved after powering the Ateneo Blue Eagles to a historic third straight UAAP championship.

Although overlooked for most of the season for gaining some extra pounds, Buenafe not only copped the Finals Most Valuable Player award yesterday, but also clinched his sixth team title in six years.

“I’m just thankful that I was given another three-peat,” said Buenafe, who also won three straight titles with the San Sebastian Staglets in the NCAA before joining the Eagles.

Playing his best game of the season, Buenafe knocked in the clutch baskets in the final seven minutes to finish with 23 points, six rebounds, one assist and one steal to lead the Blue Eagles to a 65-62 triumph over the Far Eastern U Tamaraws at the Araneta Coliseum.

“He’s a winner,” said Ateneo coach Norman Black. “He said he’d step up when it’s really needed. He’s been telling me that all along. He said [Game 2] will be a breakout game for him, he actually predicted it.”

Buenafe admitted that he was far from game shape early in the season, but vowed to work hard on his game as the league rolled on.

Several times in the eliminations, Black even admonished Buenafe for his poor defensive game and sat him out in certain stretches of the game.

“It’s true, I’m not denying it (being overweight),” Buenafe, taunted as “Buenafat,” said with a laugh. “I wasn’t in condition after we won our championship last year. I didn’t train for quite a long time.”