Calvin Abueva headlines college basketball awardees

MANILA, Philippines – Calvin Abueva, San Sebastian’s do-it-all forward, headlines the Mythical Five when the UAAP-NCAA Press Corps and Smart hold the annual Collegiate Basketball Awards on Jan. 21 at the Gateway Suites in Cubao.

Abueva, the reigning Most Valuable Player of the NCAA, will share the spotlight with four varsity stars who were part of the national team that struck gold in the Southeast Asian games.

The dynamic Ateneo duo of Kiefer Ravena and Greg Slaughter, UAAP MVP Bobby Ray Parks Jr. of National U and San Beda’s Garvo Lanete complete the Mythical five.

Known for his immense work rate, the 6-foot-3 Abueva regularly posted double-double averages in points and rebounds as the Stags reached the finals for the third straight year.

One of the most sought-after players coming out of Ateneo high school, Ravena lived up to the hype as he made an instant impact in helping Ateneo bag its fourth straight UAAP crown.

Ravena’s clutch shooting and hustle keyed Ateneo’s surge.

Slaughter, the 7-foot Fil-Am who dominated the Cebu collegiate scene before transferring to Ateneo, was also instrumental in the Eagles’ romp. An inside operator with a smooth shooting tough, Slaughter was also a force on defense for the Eagles, who downed Far Eastern U in the finals.

The Mythical Five is one of the major awards presented by the group of scribes from various broadsheets, tabloids and online publications covering the varsity beat.

Lanete turned out to be a clutch performer for the Lions, who claimed back-to-back NCAA crowns and a record-tying 16th overall basketball championship.

Parks, the son of seven-time PBA Best Import Bobby Parks, Sr., carried the fight for the rebuilding Bulldogs with his superior all-around game.