Sports bits

Reyes, Delasin notch Best Athlete Awards

Efren "Bata" Reyes, whose magical prowess awed fans worldwide, and Fil-Am Dorothy Delasin, one of the top names in ladies golf were chosen as Philippines Sportswriters Association (PSA) top Athletes of the Year.

Earning 37 votes in secret balloting by members of the PSA, Reyes outpointed world boxing champion Manny Pacquaio (11) and Southeast Asian Games double gold medallist Eduardo Buenavista (3) to become the PSA top male athlete of the year.

Delasin, last year's Athlete of the Year, won her second title as the best female athlete with 37 votes, a runaway winner against Liza del Rosario who garnered nine votes. Del Rosario was the SEA Games gold medallist in women's doubles in bowling and finalist in the prestigious World Cup of bowling in Pattaya, Thailand.

Reyes and Delasin will receive the highest honor of the sportswriting fraternity from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who will be the guest of honor and speaker during the awarding rites at Holiday Inn, Manila on January 11.

Reyes, 47, won four major titles including the US Masters and the Tokyo 9-ball Championships and a record P12.9 million. Delasin, 21, defended her rookie title at the Giant Eagle Classic and took a four-stroke victory at the Samsung Championships in Vallejo, California for a third career win.

Adducul, other stars join PBA draft

Big names from the rival Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) led by its biggest star Rommel Adducul and 80 other aspirants, including Philippine Basketball League (PBL) ace center Yancy De Ocamp, 19 part-Filipinos and a crop of barely recognizable names beat the deadline for the January 13 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) rookie draft held at the Glorietta Mall, Makati City.

Adducul's release from the MBA had already been agreed in principle. His departure papers are being processed in preparation for the big shift which should be signed by the MBA, ABS-CBN and the Batangas Blades, whom he steered to the national championships against the Negros Slashers in December.

Together with Adducul, other MBA players trying their luck in the opposing league are Omanzie Rodrigues, Jeffrey Flowers, Raffy Reavis, Chris Clay, Kalani Ferreira, Chito Victolero, Danny Capobres and Egay Echavez.

DLSU star guard Mike Cortez, who is part - Filipino is also entering the draft where at least four teams - San Miguel, Pop Cola, Talk and Text and Purefoods - have indicated interest in acquiring the services of the 6-5 player.

Adducul, who reported was being paid the maximum P500,000 per month from the MBA and his fellow applicants from the MBA, have until the eighth of January to present proof of release from their teams while the part-Filipinos have to present a certification of citizenship from the Department of Justice.

The number of applicants (81) for the 2002 draft is already a record in the annual event beating the previous mark of 57 last year.

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Slashers part in MBA 2002

With the change of policy adopted by the Multi-Regional Basketball Inc. (MRBI), the Negros Slashers, still reeling from another bridesmaid finish for the umpteenth time and the rumor of disbandment, are assured of continuing participation in the MBA.

Under the new policy, there will no longer be a direct relationship between a corporate backer and a team in 2002. According to MBA chairman Santi Araneta, the Slashers will continue to be a viable franchise since all funds coming from corporate sponsors will go direct to the MRBI, the governing body of the MBA, who will then distribute the amount to the various teams seeing action in the league.

Slashers general manager Babes Alvarez said that the new policy appears to be the perfect solution to the team's present dilemma of having to look for a corporate sponsor after ABS-CBN backed out of financial support and it will enable the Negros club to remain in the league.

In other developments, despite the exodus of some stars to the PBA, the MBA is still confident in the 2002 season, which will start in April with former teams like Pampanga and Pangasinan making a comeback, and Olongapo City through Tourism Secretary Dick Gordon expressing a desire to field a team.

Pinoy athletes get boost from PSC

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Carlos Tuason announced that the implementation of bilateral sports agreements forged with the Australian Sports Commission and the Chinese Ministry of Sports will be among the top priorities in 2002.

Tuason revealed that the agreements provide, among others, training, competition, technology and equipments, coaching seminars and sports medicines for athletes and coaches. From the accord with China and Australia, marked improvements in performances can be expected from Filipino athletes when they participate in international competitions from hereon.

He also added that the PSC had successfully conducted intensive training and seminars in sports leadership, values formation and psychomotor skills development to more than 20 outstanding winners and contestants of the Batang Pinoy and the millenium Palarong Pambansa to be able to discover a new breed of sports heroes.

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