Chandumal cops FIBL MVP plum

MANILA, Philippines - Blue Sharks’ Manoj Chandumal bagged his fourth MVP crown and led the mythical team in the Filipino-Indian Basketball League during awards rites at the Ynares gym in Pasig City recently.

Chandumal, a former La Salle player, bested a host of others for the top individual plum although the Blue Sharks fell short and lost the crown to the Gray Gators in sudden death.

Joining Chandumal in the Mythical Five were Gators’ Sajeev Gangwani and Dinesh Mohnani, scoring  leader Ajeet  Singh the Kings and the Warriors’ Mukesh Mohnani.

The Kings’ Rajkaran Singh took the rookie of the year plum and was best in steals while Gangwani copped three awards, including the best in rounds and block on his way to clinching the defensive player of the year honors.

Mohnani emerged tops in assists, Lavesh Chandnani took the sixth award, Dinesh Mohnani copped the most improved player honors while Vladimir Singh of the Gators won the sportsmanship award.

Chito Victolero, meanwhile, pocketed the coach of the year award after steering the Gators to their first-ever FIBL crown.

Gracing the awards rites were UAAP MVP Kiefer Ravena, former PBA star Vince Hizon and wife Patricia Bermudez, former PBA player Ali Peek, Gilas Pilipinas team manager Aboy Castro and assistant coach Ted Baldwin, UAAP champion National University coach Eric Altamirano along with Bhagu Sitaldas, vice president of the Filipino-Indian Chambers of Commerce of the Philippines and FIBL commissioner Dilip  Budhrani.