San Miguel wins maiden ABL championship

It may not be as sweet as a home win but San Miguel Beermen got the job done with a sweep in their title series against the Indonesia Warriors (70-55). The Beermen lead by their Coach Leo Austria dedicate the season to their late coach, Bobby Parks.

Chris Banchero was crowned as Finals MVP.

Here are the highlights of the Beermen championship celebration:

 

JR Cawaling, Jeric Marco Fortuna, Val Acuna and Christian Luanzon celebrate

 

 

Leo Avenido, one of three remaining holdovers from last year's ABL team kissing the trophy

 

 

Chris Banchero, 2013 ABL Finals MVP is very happy... He is also a holdover from last year's ABL team.

 

 

(c) Asean Basketball League 

 

 

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At 40, Asi Taulava of the San Miguel Beermen wins ABL Most Valuable Player Award

10 years ago, Asi won the MVP award in the PBA, who would have known that he will win it at 40 in the Asean Basketball League?

Representing the San Miguel Beermen, Taulava averaged 10.9 points per game and 7.4 rebounds, it may not be as big as it seem but his experience has definitely boost the winning salvo of the Beermen, who will be facing the Indonesia Warriors once more for the ABL Finals starting Friday.

"We have some very talented players in our league, and any one of them would have made an excellent ASEAN MVP - and it is a testament to Asi Taulava that he was selected by the teams for this award," said ABL CEO Anthony Macri. "It has been an honor and a privilege to have Asi in the AirAsia ASEAN Basketball League this season. He was the go-to post player down the stretch of big games for the San Miguel Beermen all year long, and always seemed to deliver. He is a great ambassador of the game to the region as well, and I hope he has a few more years of play left in him for basketball fans throughout ASEAN to enjoy

Taulava bested out his Fil-Italian team mate, Chris Banchero, who despite being injury-hobbled managed to lead the team in points, assists and steals, Sports Rev Thailand Slammers’Froilan Baguion, Saigon Heat’s Jai Reyes and Indonesia Warriors’ Mario Wuysang.

 

Note: Asi was the second Beerman winning the Most Valuable Player Award after Leo Avenido in 2012.

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