Toyota cagers are Bud Cup MVPs

Three-time champion Bud Light-Toyota Tundra hauled in two more trophies during Wednesday’s awards ceremony after Taj Van Buren, Elias Rangamar, and Abong Camacho were recognized for their efforts in the recently concluded 2005 Budweiser Cup BANMI Men’s Island-wide Basketball League.

League commissioner Abner Venus first called on Van Buren and recognized the versatile forward as the regular season’s most valuable player after averaging over 20 points per game and playing a key role in Toyota’s pennant run.

Van Buren, who suited up for the first time for Toyota, was quick to gel with his teammates and was deadly from beyond the 3-point arc as his long-range shooting accounted for most of his 265 points in the13 games he played.

He ended up averaging 20.4 points per outing, which was third best in the league, and was a force that helped Toyota finish with a league-best 12-2 win-loss record.

Venus then called on Rangamar as he presented him the playoffs MVP award.

Rangamar took pride in setting up teammates for better shots as his playmaking skills proved to be vital to Toyota’s success.

The veteran point guard, who still surprises many especially because he also suits up in the BANMI Masters Basketball League, was hampered with injuries during the best-of-three finals against powerhouse MARPAC-Nissan Titans, but still came through when his team needed him the most.

Rangamar had nine and eight points in the first two games of the series, which Toyota and Nissan split.

With the title on the line, Rangamar stepped up in the do-or-die third game and became the X-factor for Toyota as he took on a more aggressive role in scoring while still driving the lanes and drawing the defense to set up open shots for the team’s shooters.

He ended up drilling five triples and finished with a team-high 26 points in Toyota’s Game 3 victory.

Rangamar, however, refused to accept the award, citing that Camacho’s performance was the difference in Toyota’s title run.

Not many will argue Rangamar’s decision as Camacho dominated the paint in all three games, overcoming double and triples teams on many occasions.

His crafty footwork in the paint enabled the lefty to torment defenders for 34 points in the first game and 36 points in the second game.

The points, however, weren’t the only thing Camacho contributed as his presence on the court resulted in more than a handful of rebounds on both ends of the court.

Camacho also forced opposing players to double team, which gave Van Buren and other Toyota players better looks at the baskets.

Camacho capped the finals with 20 points in Game 3 to finish the series with an average of 30 points per game.

“Abong did a lot of the work and this trophy belongs to him,” Rangamar said. “He played hard on all three games and was a force in all those games. He came through when we needed him to.”

Camacho was also in the Bud Cup Mythical Five, joining Titans forward Jawn Joyner, O’Douls-Ol’Aces forward Jack Lizama, Bud Ice-SaipanCell Hoopaholics guard Jason Amado, and scoring champion Dave Sablan of Michelob-Master Construction Torque.

Bacardi-Rep. Clyde Norita Golden Oldies took home the sportsmanship award.