The AirAsia ASEAN Basketball League announced the recipient for the coveted ABL Local MVP Award 2012. This year, the award goes to San Miguel Beermen’s Leo Avenido. 

Avenido, alongside Indonesia Warriors’ Mario Wuysang and Al Vergara from the AirAsia Philippine Patriots were shortlisted as nominees for this award due to their stats and efficiency ratings generated during the regular season. The Head Coaches from all eight teams in the league this year then voted on which player they felt deserved the honor the most.

"I'm very grateful. I thank all the coaches who voted for me, whoever made me MVP, I thank you very much." Avenido said, after he was informed of his award. "I play hard and play as aggressive in every game; I always try to do my best."

“Of course, every player dreams of winning the MVP award from ABL, in every league of the world like in the NBA, it’s the same,” continued Avenido, who finished the regular season as the highest scoring local, with a 14.86 point average per game. “It’s a dream to win this but the most important thing is still the Championship, and that is a team effort.”

Avenido is no stranger to the league and made his first ABL appearance in Season 1 where he was an integral member of the Brunei Barracudas squad. Having made his presence felt, Avenido entered the league’s second season in a Singapore Slingers jersey and took the squad into the Playoffs. Despite impressive showings over both seasons, Avenido has yet to lift the ABL trophy himself.

This might be his year however, as Avenido, along with the rest of the Beermen squad, are currently in preparations to head into Game 3 of the AirAsia ABL Finals 2012 this weekend in the Philippines where they will be hosting the Indonesia Warriors.