RDO, REID BAG GOVS’ CUP TOP PLAYER PLUMS
Ranidel de Ocampo took home the PBA Governors’ Cup Best Player of the Conference award Thursday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
With Talk ‘N Text advancing to the semifinals and going the distance in their best-of-five semifinals series against San Mig Super Coffee, the 32-year-old de Ocampo beat out fancied opponents for the plum despite placing only fifth in the stats race.
The Julugan, Tanza, Cavite native won the award after bagging 1,084 points powered by 541 media points, 150 from the PBA, 35 from the players, and 358 stats points.
The Gilas gunner edged San Miguel Beer’s June Mar Fajardo (989 points), Air21’s Asi Taulava (638), Ginebra’s Greg Slaughter (409), and Meralco’s Cliff Hodge (404), all of whom got the boot in the quarterfinals.
It is de Ocampo’s first BPC award in his 10-year career.
“Sobrang saya kasi first Best Player of the Conference award ko ‘to,” de Ocampo said. “Dati naman nagiging candidate din ako, pero di nananalo. Kahit paano, yung mga hirap, tiyaga, nagbunga.
“Na-appreciate ng tao at ng mga bumoto. Sa mga fans, maraming salamat sa inyo.”
Meanwhile, Rain or Shine dynamo Arizona Reid came away with his second Bobby Parks Best Import award.
The 28-year-old High Point University alumnus came away with 1,306 points to top the list, after topping the stats (563), media (518), and PBA (150). He was the runner-up in the players’ votes with 75.
Reid beat out last year’s Best Import Marqus Blakely of San Mig Coffee (1,043 points), Talk ‘N Text’s Paul Harris (602), and Alaska’s Henry Walker (572).
Reid won his first Best Import trophy during the 2011 Governors’ Cup. (RL)
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