Bono, the burly Adamson slot man, completed that big transformation yesterday as he won the most coveted UAAP individual award, edging out Ateneo’s JC Intal in one of the closest MVP races in years.
"I have to thank coach Leo (Austria) for making me the player I am now," said Bono in Filipino after taking the spotlight in the awards ceremonies held before Game Two of the Ateneo-UST title playoff.
Bono led all players in statistics after the double-round eliminations as he averaged 22.4 points and about 10 rebounds, becoming the biggest factor in Adamson’s entry into the Final Four for the first time since the format’s introduction.
He became the first player from a non-finalist team to win MVP honors since James Yap of University of the East achieved the same feat in 2003.
Curiously, Yap, now also an MVP winner in the pros, and Bono both came from the Iloilo Central Commercial High School.
Intal settled for a spot in the elite First Mythical Team, joining Bono, Santo Tomas’ Jervy Cruz, State U’s Marvin Cruz and Far Eastern U’s Jeff Chan.
Woody Co, a former Xavier School standout, was named Rookie of the Year, edging out teammates Miguel de Asis and Martin Reyes and Ateneo’s Eric Salamat for the honors.
Meanwhile, Ateneans Cassy Tioseco and Raymond Austria bagged the MVP honors in the women’s and juniors divisions, respectively.
Son of Adamson coach Leo Austria, Raymond also led the juniors’ First Mythical Team that included teammate Mike Gamboa, FEU’s Socrates Rivera and Mark Lopez, and UE’s Erwin Duran.
The women’s Mythical Five were composed of Tioseco, teammate AJ Barracoso, Rem Buenacosa and Marichu Bacaro of UST and Merenciana Arayi of Adamson.
Adamson’s Jeff Olalia and Katherine Sandel were the juniors and women’s top rookies. — Joey Villar