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Fernando, Devero take MVP awards
Red Rice’s Angelo Fernando and Makalaro Lang’s Ivan Devero split the two individual awards handed at the conclusion of the 2015 Blue Haus/IT&E Inter-Color Basketball League last Sunday at the Navy Hill Basketball Court.
Red Rice’s Angelo Fernando, right, drives against Makalaro Lang’s Errol Peredo during the third quarter of their title game in the Blue Haus-IT&E caging last Sunday at the Navy Hill Basketball Court. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
The lefty Fernando clinched the Finals MVP award for helping Red Rice beat Makalaro Lang, 94-91, in their championship match, while the high-flying Devero secured the regular season MVP plum.
Fernando scored 19 points in the winner-take-all match, hitting crucial baskets in the second half to save the day for Red Rice. He knocked in a pair of free throws at the end of the third period to turn Red Rice’s shaky 70-69 lead to a 3-point cushion. Earlier in the third canto, he also made two charities to give the lead back to Red Rice after a 10-2 run by Makalaro Lang knotted the count at 62-all.
In the fourth quarter, he scored the first basket for Red Rice and then midway in the final canto after Makalaro Lang managed to steal the lead and stretched its advantage to as much as 5, Fernando teamed up with Darwin Barbo in putting their team back on top. His layup ended Makalaro Lang’s stay at the driver’s seat, 87-86, and he also made a couple of hustle plays that broke up Makalaro Lang’s offensive sets in the homestretch as he used his long arms and quickness to keep up with the opposing team’s gunners.
Meanwhile, after losing in the finals, Devero had a sort of consolation as he went home with the regular season MVP award.
Devero bagged the coveted plum for towing Makalaro Lang to a field-best 6-2 record in round-robin elimination. He played in seven of the eight matches in the regular season and was Makalaro Lang’s leading scorer with an average of 21.4 per game.
He registered his most points (32) in their 98-69 rout of the Mamba and then had 20-plus production in three other games, posting 23 versus Hard Kulangot, 26 against Eh Di Wow, and 21 over Purple Rain. Against, Red Rice and Kidlat, Devero tallied 18 and 16, respectively, while he had his least points (14) in their loss to Pasion De Amor. Devero did not play against Oh My J, which handed Makalaro Lang its second defeat in the regular season.
