Young lensman Kyle Janremy Bustos from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde bagged the first prize in PBA Press Corps photography contest.
The first-of-its-kind division opened at the recently concluded PBA Press Corps Sportswriting Contest. The competition, first conducted in 1994, is organized by the PBA Press Corps, the group of professional sports correspondents from various news organizations covering the Philippine basketball league.
Bustos won in the special photography category launched to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the competition.
The multimedia arts student and former photo editor of the Benildean Press Corps admitted that the existing lighting condition inside the coliseum posed a challenge.
But with techniques and skills he had earned and honed in his past coverages, Bustos was able to produce a series of outstanding action shots of the game between Meralco Bolts and Alaska Aces.
His entries caught the attention of the panel of judges composed of Spin.ph lead photographer and Sony Philippines ambassador Jerome Ascaño and distinguished lensmen Ernie Sarmiento of ESPN5 and August Dela Cruz of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Bustos took home a cash prize of P10,000 and a certificate.
John Edward Gaspar from The Republic Online of Marcelo H. Del Pilar National High School placed second, while Lucky Dela Rosa from The Philippine Collegian of the University of the Philippines ranked third.
The winners were formally awarded by PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial during the halftime of Game 4 of the Governors’ Cup semis series between Barangay Ginebra and NorthPort.
In the sportswriting division, Bulacan State University students Justin Mhar de Jesus and Eriell Estrada won first and second, respectively.
Meanwhile, Grade 11 student from St. Dominic College of Asia Senior High School Gillenne Gustine Garcia took the third spot, becoming the first female winner in the PBA Press Corps Sportswriting Contest.