LETRAN’S Rhenz Abando and Ateneo’s Thirdy Ravena and Ange Koaume thanked school leagues scribes for recognizing their accomplishments during the Collegiate Press Corps Awards Night at the Hummingbird Rooftop Bar in Quezon City on Monday.
“This means a lot to me this time, four years ago was really the time that shaped me both on and off the court and made me a better person,” said Ravena through a video message showed by his father, Bong, who received the award on his behalf.
Abando, Ravena and Koaume were hailed Collegiate Basketball Players of the Year for different University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) seasons before and immediately after the pandemic. The awards was shuttered by Covid for three years.
“Collegiate basketball brought me to where I am now, that’s why I am so grateful to Letran and the NCAA,” said Abando, who’s a certified star of Anyang KGC which he helped win the Korean Basketball League title.
Also honored in the ceremony presented by San Miguel Corp. and the Philippine Sports Commission were champion coaches Tab Baldwin of Ateneo, Goldwin Monteverde of University of the Philippines and Bonnie Tan of Letran.
“If you have the chance to prove yourself… go for it. Right timing, right materials, right resources, they provide you great opportunities to win,” said Tan, who resigned at Letran to focus on NorthPort in the Philippine Basketball Association, in the event also co-presented by Robinsons Supermarket, Robinsons Appliances and Handyman.
Volleyball stars Bella Belen of National University and Angel Canino of De La Salle University were also hailed as Collegiate Volleyball Players of the Year, as well as College of Saint Benilde’s Mycah Go and Gayle Pascual in the awards night also backed MNL Kingpin, Tinapayan Festival, Jockey and World Balance.