see this:
proud of ya dude!! waho0!
Barangay Ginebra ace Fil-Am Eric Menk just won't be denied of the most cherished PBA individual award despite his indefinite suspension.
Though overtaken in the statistical race after missing Ginebra's last seven games in the season because of his suspensio, Menk won the Most Valuable Player honors he rightfully deserved for a dominating performance in the 2004-05 campaign.
The 30-year-old Fil-Am flew in from London Sunday noon to personally receive the most coveted plum in the Annual Awards Night held before Game Four of the Gran Matador PBA Fiesta Cup finals at the Araneta Coliseum.
"I was surprised. I didn't expect it considering the situation I'm in," said Menk, who emerged the league's best player in his sixth season in the league.
Dapper in a black suit, Menk also said: "I've had good years but it's only now that I've become a part of a team with successful campaigns. So I owe it to my team, to my teammates and the coaching staff."
Menk capped his fruitful season by winning the MVP trophy and gaining his very first membership in the Mythical First Team as best forward. He made it to the Mythical Second Team once in his rookie year in 1999.
Despite his suspension, the 6-foot-6 forward-slotman won the MVP race in runaway fashion. He amassed 8,217 points as against Willie Miller's 3,043, Nic Belasco's 1,978, Mark Caguioa's 1,951, and Jimmy Alapag's 1,211.
Menk, Miller, Alapag, Belasco and San Miguel’'s Dorian Pena made it to the Mythical First Team while Caguioa landed in the Mythical Second Team together with San Miguel's Olsen Racela, Talk n Text's Mark Telan, Shell's Anthony dela Cruz and Ginebra's Romel Adducul.
Shell's Rich Alvarez and Red Bull's Enrico Villanueva also seized the limelight in the ceremony dubbed the Leo Awards as Rookie of the Year awardee and the Most Improved Player.
Alvarez was the seventh top draft pick in league history to emerge as top freshman. Incidentally, he's the second former Ateneo Blue Eagle to emerge as Rookie of the Year after Jojo Lastimosa in 1988.
Dondon Hontiveros won the Sportsmanship Award, the third Beermen after Freddie Abuda ('97, '98& '00) and Samboy Lim ('93) to win the recognition, even as Villanueva and Alvarez gained other award as members of the All-Defensive Team together with Red Bull's Junthy Valenzuela, Coca-Cola's Johnny Abarrientos and Sta. Lucia's Dennis Espino.
It was Abarrientos' fifth stint with the team and second for Espino. Valenzuela, Villanueva and Alvarez made it to the team for the first time with the latter becoming only the third rookie to make it to the All-Defensive Team after Marlou Aquino in '96 and Jun Limpot in '93.
It was truly a successful season for Menk and his Ginebra teammates who ruled the transition Fiesta Conference and the Philippine Cup. Menk reaped the Best Player of the Conference and Finals MVP trophies in both tournaments.
He said he wasn't able to sort out his eligibility problem because he went on a leisure trip in Europe. He said he was on a taxi on the way to the airport when he heard the news about the four blasts in London.
Menk promised to fix his papers in the next few days then he’ll talk with coach Chot Reyes for a possible return to the RP team. (NC)
> mrs. p0ta-to Shot, cha +
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