Helterbrand MVP ng PBA

MANILA, Philippines - Tinapos ni Jayjay Helterbrand ng Barangay Ginebra ang kanyang mahusay na performance sa lahat ng playmaker sa PBA nang masungkit nito ang pinakamaningning na karangalan bilang Most Valubale Player sa 2009 Leo Awards kagabi sa Araneta Coliseum.

Napagwagian ng 32 anyos na si Helterbrand ang pinakaasam na para-ngal kontra kina Arwind Santos at Dondon Hontiveros, na nagsiguro sa Kentucky State-Lexington product ng puwesto sa kasaysayan ng liga na hindi maaaring mawala sa kanya.

Dahil sa solidong stastitical points at pagtango ng mga kapwa players, media, TV coveror mismo, nakuha ni Helterbrand ang kara-ngalan at tanghaling ikalawang Ginebra player na nakakuha ng karangalan kasunod ni Eric Menk.

Ngiting-ngiti si Helterbrand ng tanggapin ang tropeo mula kay PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios at board chairman Joaqui Trillo at board member Buddy Encarnado.

"It's such a great honor," ani Helterbrand sa pagwawagi niya sa karangalan sa kanyang ika-8th season sa liga.

"It was sweet. It was something I wished would happen (when I joined the league in 2000) but I never really thought it would be like this," dagdag pa ni Helterbrand.

"If you told us at the start of the season that we would be in the finals and I would be the MVP, I would say crazy. We started really bad. But that's the Ginebra character. Anytime there are injuries, there's someone stepping up. That's always been how Ginebra plays."

Nakasama naman ni Helterbrand sa Mythical Five Selection sina Santos, Mark Cardona ng Talk N Text, Dondon Hontiveros ng San Miguel at Asi Taulava ng Coca-Cola habang tinanghal namang Rookie of the Year si Gabe Norwood ng Rain or Shine.

Nakabilang din si Norwood sa Mythical Second Team kasama sina Hontiveros, Willie Miller ng Alaska, Kelly Williams ng Sta. Lucia at JayR Reyes ng Rain or Shine   habang sina Santos at Taulava ay nakasama din sa All Defensive Team na kinabibila-ngan nina Wynne Arboleda ng Burger King at Ronald Tubid at Billy Mamaril ng Ginebra.

Si Jonas Villanueva naman ang Most Improved Player habang si Ryan Reyes ang napili sa Sportmanship Award.

Samantala, kasaluku-yang naglalaban ang San Miguel at Ginebra sa Game 4 ng kanilang titular showdown.