Thirdy Ravena leads two other stellar collegiate cage stars who will be honored by the Collegiate Press Corps when it holds its annual Awards Night on Monday at The Hummingbird Rooftop Bar in Quezon City.
The Ateneo de Manila University standout will be feted along with teammate Ange Kouame and Colegio de San Juan de Letran ace Rhenz Abando as winners of the Collegiate Basketball Player of the Year award presented by San Miguel Corporation and backed by the Philippine Sports Commission.
The trio will highlight the return of the awards rites after a four-year pandemic hiatus as the Collegiate Press Corps, composed of sportswriters from the print and online outfits covering the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and National Collegiate Athletic Association, celebrate the accomplishments of basketball and volleyball student-athletes.
Ravena earned top honors for the 2019-20 athletic year, as he capped his glittering Blue Eagles career by helping his team complete a perfect 16-0 campaign in UAAP Season 82.
He was named the Finals Most Valuable Player after leading the way in Ateneo’s sweep of University of Santo Tomas with averages of 24.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists in two games.
Abando, meanwhile, is the top collegiate player for the 2021-22 season wherein he made history with the Knights.
In his first and only season in the NCAA, Abando was named both the Rookie of the Year and the MVP, while leading Letran to the Season 97 throne.
He averaged 15.73 points, 6.36 rebounds, 1.73 assists, and 1.27 blocks.
Rounding out the awardees is Ateneo’s Kouame, who will be celebrated for his efforts in the 2022-23 athletic season.
The naturalized Filipino center was the UAAP MVP in Season 84, and the Finals MVP in Season 85 when the Blue Eagles regained the championship.
