Photo by Ron Cantiveros | Filipino Journal Archives
Manny Aranez, Commissioner of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is set to be inducted as a Builder into the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame this coming September. Basketball Manitoba called him the “patriarch of Filipino basketball” and to the thousands of basketball players, coaches and volunteers, all know him as “Tito Manny”. His love and passion for basketball over the last 20 years has inspired generations of Filipino basketball players. In PBA last season in 2019-20 before the COVID-19 pandemic, the PBA League had over 114 teams across 14 divisions. The mission of the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame is to induct into the Hall players, teams and builders for their outstanding achievements in the sport of basketball in Manitoba as well as to preserve and showcase the rich history of basketball in Manitoba.
Manny Aranez, Commissioner Philippine Basketball Association – 2021 Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee
The Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame is pleased to announce its Class of 2021. The official induction is scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 25, 2021 at the Victoria Inn in Winnipeg.
PLAYERS :
● Shawn Gray – a native of Toronto who starred with the Brandon University Bobcats 1993-98; four-time GPAC All-Star; All-Canadian selection in 1997-98; led BU to a CIAU National Championship in 1996 where he was named a tournament all-star; played professionally in The Netherlands and Belgium 1998-2001
● JoAnne Wells-Small – recruited from Halifax, Nova Scotia; played with the University of Winnipeg Wesmen, 2000-2006; 3-time CIAU/CIS All-Canadian; GPAC Rookie-of-the-Year in 2000-01; 4-time Canada West All-Star; Canada West Player-of-the-Year and Nan Copp Award winner as the National Player of the Year in 2004-05; averaged 21.3 points per game and 6.7 rebounds over her final three seasons
BUILDERS:
● Manny Aranez – founder and commissioner of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA); the league was founded in 2001 with just seven teams and now features more than 114 teams with 14 divisions; often referred to as the Patriarch of Filipino Basketball; elected as the commissioner of the Filipino Basketball Association of North America, 2014-18
● Ray Hurd – longtime high school coach,1971-93, in Killarney and Brandon; in Killarney he coached 46 teams at all levels (Varsity, JV & junior high, girls and boys) and also refereed; the Shamrock Classic tournament in Killarney was built into one of the best with teams from all over the province; Coach-of-the-Year in 1986 and MHSAA ‘AA’ Varsity Girls Provincial Champions in 1982
● John Klassen – started his coaching career in Altona and then moved to Garden Valley Collegiate in Winkler where he coached the Zodiacs for 23 years and won seven MHSAA provincial Championships and 14 Zone Championships; provincial Coach-of-the-Year in 1989-90; founded the Winkler Minor Basketball Association in 1993
● Randy Kusano – one of the most successful high school coaches in Manitoba history; coached at Oak Park High School for 34 years where his Raider teams won 11 conference titles, three ‘AAAA’ MHSAA Provincial Championships and developed over 25 players who went on to play at the next level; Mike Spack Award recipient in 2010; started his coaching career at the University of Manitoba with the Junior Bisons; 25 years as an assistant coach with Bison men’s and women’s teams; coached many Basketball Manitoba summer provincial teams and mentored many young coaches
Congratulations Manny Aranez on your Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame Induction
from Manitoba Filipino Journal
