Buenafe, Lanete earn pivotal player honors

For helping their respective schools clinch the UAAP and NCAA diadems, Ateneo's Ryan Buenafe and San Beda's Garvo Lanete were named as the UAAP-NCAA Press Corps Pivotal Players of the Year. Both collegiate standouts will receive their respective awards, along with Blue Eagles coach Norman Black and Red Lions mentor Frankie Lim, in the Collegiate Basketball Awards on January 17 at the Topaz 1 of the Gateway Suites in Cubao, Quezon City. Buenafe and Lanete earned the nod of all sportswriters who covered the recently concluded collegiate season for their timely contributions in the finals series of their respective leagues. The event, being supported by the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA), will start at 7 p.m. Despite weight problems and an inconsistent season, Buenafe saved his best game for last, guiding the Blue Eagles to a two-game sweep of top seed and title favorite Far Eastern University Tamaraws to complete a rare UAAP three-peat. Buenafe scored 10 of his season-high 23 points in the fourth quarter to lead Ateneo to a 65-62 Game 2 win as the Blue Eagles joined the likes of University of the East, University of Santo Tomas, FEU and La Salle, which achieved the same feat. Lanete, meanwhile, was one of the key figures in San Beda's historic 18-game sweep of the NCAA season. He made the timely baskets as the Red Lions easily dispatched of defending champion San Sebastian in two games in the finals. In that series, Lanete averaged 15.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists for San Beda, which regained the title it lost to San Sebastian in 2009. The Red Lions also won their fourth title in the last five seasons. He also drained a crucial buzzer-beating three-pointer in the final 3:59 of the game as the Red Lions extended their lead to nine points after the Stags mounted a last-ditch rally. Other distinctions being given is for the Collegiate Mythical Team that will feature the five best players from both leagues this season, the UAAP and NCAA Juniors Players of the Year and the Super Senior awards. – JVP, KY, GMANews.TV