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MVP Fortus "The Soul" of Barangay San
Agustin with Mayor Danny Toreja |
The Saint's jersey #7 Fortus was awarded the league's Most Valueable Player, winning over Poblacion's Dapito who's been an early favorite to win the most coveted award. However, throughout the Championship games, Fortus was able to prove his worth, sinking baskets after baskets, much more during clutch time when his services are needed the most.
In Game 1, he struggled hard to lift his team in the closing minutes of the game. However, the Saints was not able to control the tempo of the game as they run wild without direction. As what has been written before, the team committed around six turn overs which prevented them from at least sending the game into a dead lock. Fortus himself was held to limited production. He even missed two free throws in dying seconds that would have changed the game story board.
Game 2 bolstered more of his versatility, displaying reasons why he is considered as the team's "The Soul". Playing Point Guard for the Saints, Fortus fits perfectly to the position. He was the Head Coach's extension inside the court. At the start of the each quarters, he acts as the team's pilot, maneuvering plays, scanning the war-torn hard court for free-man to feed the ball, and battling it up for offensive and defensive rebound. And by the last quarter, that's when he takes charge. Summer day is bringing prickly heat and sweat with everyone. But when his hands begin to feel the heat, it's raining with baskets from perimeter, inside the paint and beyond the arc. Not to mention his neck-breaking deadly slashing drives that defy gravity and defense from much taller and bigger opponents. The same reasons why the Saints made a bloody sweet revenge, winning big time in Game 2 with 21-point lead.
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Ibaan SK Summer Basketball League 2011 Champion, with their
Head Coach Eric Fortus (front row, 2nd from left),
"The Saints" Brgy. San Agustin. |
In Game 3, just as when Poblacion is closing the gap and slowly cutting their lead, Fortus would always go ballistic with his deadly outside/fade aways shots. Once the inbound was received, "The Soul" would go fast and the furious, then "stops then pops" a two or three. He was the usual "man-to-go-to" and "man-to-turn-to". He's been given the "go signal" and 'license-to-shoot". And for that, believing on his talent and trusting his instinct, his teammates would clear the bush along the way of provide shadows and screen to provide lucidity of his vision of the basket. He was almost unstoppable. And everyone who watched the Championship Seres can attest to that.
The result, he was declared Ibaan SK Basketball Summer League 2011 Most Valuable Player. And to add laurel to his hat, Fortus was also selected Shooting Guard of the the Mythical Five Team.
Other members of the Mythical Five are as follows:
Point Guard - (25) Almario of Catandala
Shooting Guard - (7) Fortus of San Agustin
Shooting Forward - (8) Montalbo of Pangao
Power Forward - (17) Rivera of San Agustin
Center - (57) Dapito of Poblacion
For team awards:
Champion - Brgy. San Agustin
1st Runner-up - Brgy. Poblacion
2nd Runner-up - Brgy. Pangao
3rd Runner-up - Brgy. Bago
