Estolas, Esdrelon lead awardees

Finals protagonists Andres “Jhun” Estolas Jr. of Bayani and Elmer Esdrelon of Mover led the individual awardees of the recently concluded 2006 SIP Inter-Color Basketball League open division.

Estolas was hailed as Finals MVP after averaging a team-high 23 points per game in the best-of-three championship series against Mover.

After being bottled up by Esdrelon and company in the opener that resulted in a mere-mortal 18-point performance in a 97-99 loss, Estolas willed the pennant champions with yet another scintillating clutch performance by exploding for 35 points in Bayani’s 96-88 win in Game 2 last Oct. 10.

A week later in the do-or-die Game 3 last Tuesday, Estolas played decoy early in the game but was aggressive when it mattered the most, firing 10 of his 16 markers in the fourth to reward hardworking coach Lito Salas the title.

Esdrelon, for his part, was selected as the regular season most valuable player after leading a Mover team bereft of stars to a second place finish behind Bayani in the eliminations.

The 5’8” do-it-all guard from Fiesta Resort and Spa did it all—whether it be putting points on the scoreboard, rebounding amidst the tall trees, threading eye-of-the-needle passes, or defending the opposing team’s top scorer.

The SIP cage league selection committee—made up of association stalwarts Boy Garcia, brothers Tom and Rick Alegre, and Gilbert Espinosa—also gave away Mythical Five trophies.

Joining Estolas and Esdrelon in the Mythical Team were forwards Kevin Cequena of Ensure and Gyles Ruluked of Bayani, and center Ruther Demigillo of Samahang Ilokano at Pangasinense.

Other individual awardees were Gary Cayetano of SMF (Best in 3 points), Dennis Vinas of Sabungero (Rookie of the Year), and Salas (Best Coach).

Also bagging the best coach plum in the 40-and-over division was Henry Cruz of Cinderella team Tan Holdings Corp., which occupied the cellar in the regular season before upsetting Sabungero and Construction Material Supply in the playoffs to join eventual champion Diamond Fixers in the finals.

Diamond Fixers high-leaping guard Martin Moreno, meanwhile, was named 40-and-over MVP. He capped his season-long brilliance for the undefeated squad with a turn-back-the clock performance, scoring 20 points in their 80-61 rout of Tan Holdings in Game 2.

Price Costco and Ambyth Shipping were also the recipients of the sportsmanship awards in the open and 40-and-over divisions, respectively.

A total of 10 teams took part in the open division. They include Bayani (8-1 win-loss record in the first round), Mover (8-1), Ensure (7-2), Sabungero (6-3), MPS (6-3), SMF (3-5), PSG (3-5), Grand Hotel (2-7), Price Costco (1-8), and Pacific Island Club (0-9).

The 40-and-over division was made up of Diamond Fixers (6-0), Sabungero (5-1), CMS (4-2), Ambyth Shipping (3-3), SMF (3-3), Tan Holdings (1-5), and LBT Appraisal (1-5).