Battier napiling nba top teammate

MIAMI -- Tinawag ito ni Shane Battier bilang isa sa pinakamalaking karangalan sa kanyang buhay.

Hinirang ang Miami Heat forward na nanalo ng Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year award na kumikilala sa kanyang selfless play, leadership at pagi-ging role model sa iba pang players.

Magbibigay ang NBA ng $25,000 donation sa The Battier Take Charge Foundation na tumutulong sa kabataan na mabigyan ng educational at leadership opportunities.

Tumanggap si Battier ng 67 first-place votes at naiboto sa 209 balota ng mga NBA players para angkinin ang award.

Pumangalawa kay Battier si Al Jefferson ng Charlotte Bobcats kasunod si Dirk Nowitzki ng Dallas Mavericks sa balloting.

“Although the guys in the locker room couldn’t cast any votes for me, I’d like to think they would’ve voted for me if they could,’’ sabi ni Battier. “I hope they know that I love them and I appreciate them and everything I do I try to make that locker room better and this team better.’’

Pumangalawa si Battier kay Chauncey Billups sa naturang karangalan noong nakaraang season.

Si Battier ay nasa kanyang pang-13 at posibleng pinakahuling season. Isang two-time NBA champion at two-time member ng All-Defensive team, siya ay isa sa mga divisional winners para sa sportsmanship award ng limang beses.

“I think everybody would agree that you could make a case for a lot of guys in the locker room, but Shane, he’s the ultimate teammate,’’ wika ni Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.