Ian Sangalang should be rookie of the year, says San Mig Coffee fans

Greg Slaughter of Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings was declared as the rookie of the year for the 39th season of the PBA, which began last November and will end either tomorrow or on Wednesday.

However, some fans and supporters of San Mig Super Coffee Mixers, one of Ginebra’s two sister teams, are not exactly happy with that outcome based on their comments posted on social network sites.

Specifically, they are arguing that the Mixers’ Ian Sangalang is the one more deserving of the award. They wasted no time in making memes like the one below to stress their point.

Their main point of contention is that Sangalang, a former center for the San Sebastian College-Recoletos Stags (he was NCAA’s most valuable player for 2012), had a more remarkable first year in the league by being part of SMC Mixers. Here are some of the comments posted on this particular thread (check this link):

“Kahit sinong player tanungin mo ipagpapalit ang individual award para sa championship # realtalk”

“Basketball is about team work so individual awards don’t make sense if your team can’t make it to the finals. Ian Sangalang pa rin. He stands out and SMC stands out.”

“Hindi man makuha ni ian ang ROY .. mas mahihirapan nmn c greg na makuha ang Grandslam .. individual award is good .. but winning championship and being part of a history in pba is much better 

“The Mixers are now just one win away from getting their fourth straight conference championship as well as a rare season grand slam. Only three teams have accomplished that feat throughout the league’s history.”

“Hindi na kelangan maging rookie of the year dahil laro’ng beterano na eh.”

In contrast, Slaughter and the Gin Kings did not make it past the quarterfinals on both the Commissioner’s and Governor’s Cup. They were more successful during the Philippine Cup.

Back then, they reached the semifinals but ultimately lost to the Mixers in a thrilling seven-game series. Despite the Gings’ failed campaign, Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes invited Slaughter to be part of the national team.

However, he and San Miguel Beermen’s Marcio Lassiter declined the opportunity, earning the ire of angry netizens who felt that their management had a hand in their inexplicable decision.

Sangalang hasn’t spoken out about not getting the rookie of the year award, but his big fourth quarter performance during the Game 3 of the Mixers’ finals series against Rain or Shine Elastopainters (he topped all SMC locals in scoring) is already a big statement.

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Mark Pere Madrona

The Filipino Scribe (TFS) is managed by Mark Pere Madrona, a multi-awarded writer and licensed professional teacher from the Philippines.

Mr. Madrona earned his master’s degree in history from the University of the Philippines-Diliman last 2020. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in journalism cum laude from the same university back in 2010. His area of interests includes Philippine journalism, history, and politics as well as social media.

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