MANILA, Philippines - Multi-titled high school basketball coach Ato Badolato was elevated to the San Beda Sports Hall of Fame during the anual Red and White Ball 2010: A Celebration of Bedan Achievement recently at the NBC Tent at The Fort in Taguig.
Badolato received the honors after steering the Red Cubs to their 16th NCAA championship this season since he became coach 28 years ago.
It was a fitting tribute to Badolato who expressed a desire to retire after this season to focus on his job as San Beda athletic moderator.
The yearly awarding ceremony, organized by school rector and NCAA president Rev. Fr. Mat de Jesus, OSB, and Management Committee chair Jose Mari Lacson this year, was graced by top school patron, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas chief Manny V. Pangilinan.
Also elevated were San Beda Lions manager Mukesh Advani and former pro Joey Loyzaga. Leo Carlos Granatin, Arturo Vicente Maristela and Romerico Serrano of football were also part of this year’s top achievers.
Joey Lim, one of the organizers of the Fr. Martin Cup and part of the San Beda athletic department work force, was also honored as one of the “Distinguished Bedans” for school service.
The Benedictine school also cited the best performers in the NCAA this season, including the high school basketball squad, the men’s and high school table tennis squad and the junior lawn tennis team, among others.
This year’s edition also included the late President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino as one of the school’s major awardees.