‘Patriarch of Filipino basketball’ honoured

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This article was published 23/11/2022 (197 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After two years of COVID-19 interruptions, the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame held its 18th induction dinner at the Victoria Inn on Oct. 1.

This year there were nine distinguished names inducted into the hall of Fame, including Manny Aranez in the builder category.

The mission of the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame, which was established in 1983, is to honour players, teams and builders for their outstanding achievements in basketball in Manitoba.

The Hall of Fame Committee also developed and maintains the actual and the virtual Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame Museum. The physical museum is prominently located at the University of Winnipeg’s Duckworth Centre, where a huge e oak plaque lists the names of the more than 100 athletes, teams and builders inducted since 1983.

Aranez, the popular founder and commissioner of the vibrant, Seven Oaks-based Philippines Basketball Association (PBA), emigrated to Winnipeg in 1979 and brought with him a love of basketball.

The PBA began in 2001 with just seven teams. Now the volunteer-based league, which is open to men and women of all ages and nationalities, features 95 teams in 14 divisions from tykes to masters..

Referred as the patriarch of Filipino basketball, Manny was elected as commissioner of the Filipino Basketball Association of North American, taking on administration of a 14-city federation across Canada and the United States.

“I am very honoured to receive this prestigious award, received on behalf of the many dedicated volunteers in the PBA,” Manny said at the induction ceremony.

Other builders inducted were celebrated coaches Ray Hurd, John Klassen and Randy Kusano.

Players inducted that evening were Shawn Gray of the Brandon University Bobcats and Joanne Wells-Small of the University of Winnipeg.

The first team inducted was the amazing Joseph Wolinsky Collegiate Raiders boys team that captured four provincial championships in six years between 1983 and 1989, despite have no real school gymnasium and having to practice at the downtown YMHA.

“I’d like to credit the selection committee for its broad outlook in recognizing small and remote schools in Manitoba,” said Aaron Benarroch, a former member of the Raiders.

The Treherne Collegiate Tigers girls’ team was also honoured. The Tigers dominated western Manitoba basketball for eight years winning six provincial championships between 1995 and 2003.