Two Cebuano players who may very well hold the keys to the future of Philippine basketball lead the cast of awardees for the sport in the 31st Sportswriters Association of Cebu-SMB Cebu Sports Awards, on March 17 at the SM North Wing Atrium.
Slated to receive major awards for basketball in the annual shindig that celebrates the best Cebuano athletes in the past year are two-time University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) juniors Most Valuable Player Jerie Marlon Pingoy and the Philippine Basketball Association’s (PBA) top draft pick this season, June Mar Fajardo.
Fajardo, a two-time champion and a former MVP in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) while playing for the University of Cebu Webmasters, showcased his talents for the San Miguel Beermen in the Asean Basketball League (ABL) before being picked first by the Petron Blaze Boosters in the annual PBA Draft last year, becoming the latest Cebuano to be the top draftee since Kelly Williams was picked by the defunct Sta. Lucia Realtors in 2006.
Pingoy, on the other hand, led the Far Eastern University-Diliman to its first championship in 25 years after it defeated the National University for the crown in the UAAP juniors finals last year. To cap off his high school career, Pingoy also bannered the Mythical Five team in addition to his MVP award, his second in a row.
CITATIONS
Several other teams and players will also receive citations this weekend.
The teams that will be feted are the Southwestern University Cobras for capturing their first and only Cesafi championship after outlasting the University of the Visayas Green Lancers in a scintillating five-game finals series in the Cesafi seniors division last year, and the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles for finally breaking through and winning their first juniors crown after failing in their first two tries.
The UV Under-16 team will also be recognized for ruling the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) National Under-16 Basketball Championships in Baguio City.
The MVPs in the Cesafi basketball competition will also be honored. They are Hernal Escosio of UV for winning both the MVP and Rookie of the Year awards in the seniors division, and Dawn Hynric Ochea of SHS-AdC for leading the Magis Eagles to the juniors division crown after title losses in 2010 and 2011.
Finally, former UV and Ateneo stalwart, Greg Slaughter, will also be given a citation for his starring role in the Blue Eagles’ fifth straight championship in the UAAP.