Ranidel de Ocampo, AZ Reid bag Best Player, Best Import plums

MANILA, Philippines – It’s the first time for one, and the second time for the other.

Ranidel de Ocampo of the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters won his first ever Best Player of the Conference award in the 2014 PLDT Home Telpad PBA Governors’ Cup, while Rain or Shine Elasto Painters import Arizona “AZ” Reid wound up with his second Bobby Parks PBA Best Import plum.

De Ocampo, 32, came up with 1084 statistical points as he averaged 16.89 points, 7.78 rebounds and 1.67 assists throughout the conference as his team ended their season after a grueling 5-game semifinal series against the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers.

“Sobrang saya talaga kasi first award ko ‘to. Dati nagiging candidate naman ako pero hindi ako nananalo,” De Ocampo said after he and Reid were recognized prior to Game 2 of the best-of-5 Finals series between Rain or Shine and San Mig Coffee on Thursday, July 3 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

(I’m very happy because this is my first Best Player award. I was a candidate several times before but I never won.)

“Hindi ko naman masasabi na deserving ako kahit dati pa, kasi lahat naman ng player sa PBA deserving.” (I can’t say I deserved it before because all the players in the PBA are deserving.)

The Gilas Pilipinas forward added: “Siguro okay rin yung nangyari dati na dalawang beses ako na-cut sa national team and hindi nanalo sa Best Player. Kasi mas sumisipag ka, mas nag-hardwork.” (Perhaps it was okay that I got cut twice from the national team and didn’t win the Best Player award before. You work harder.)

De Ocampo is now also a candidate for this season’s Most Valuable Player. Though he says he is happy simply to be in the running for the league’s highest individual award.

With a 9-year career in the PBA, and still counting, De Ocampo says he doesn’t desire any more individual recognitions.

“Gusto ko siyempre more championships. Mas maganda yung marami kang championship rings.” (Of course I want more championships. It’s much better to have more championship rings.)

San Miguel Beermen’s June Mar Fajardo came in second with 989 points followed by Air21 Express’ veteran bigman Asi Taulava with 638.

Meanwhile, the 28-year old Reid from South Carolina won the Best Import award for a second time this conference with a landslide total points of 1306.

Reid normed 30.3 points and 13 rebounds as he helped carry his team to the Finals.

Reid won the award previously during the 2011 Governors’ Cup, though the Painters failed to make the Finals then.

San Mig Coffee import Marqus Blakely came in second place with 1043 points, while Paul Harris (Talk ‘N Text) and Henry Walker (Alaska Aces) had 602 and 572 points, respectively. – Rappler.com