There comes a time and moment during a game when a player simply takes over a game for his basketball team.
St. Francis senior Robert Gomez Jr. and Pajaro Valley sophomore Alan Cervantes were those go-to guys for their respective squads this past winter season.
The two local ballers displayed their offensive skills by scoring from all parts of the hardwood court while also dishing the rock to open teammates for the easy bucket.
Gomez Jr. and Cervantes didn’t just meet expectations, they exceeded them.
The coaches within the Pacific Coast Athletic League took notice by naming Gomez Jr. and Cervantes the Offensive Player of the Year in the Mission and Santa Lucia divisions, respectively.
“[Gomez Jr.] had a heck of a year,” said St. Francis head coach, and father, Robert Gomez. “What impressed me most about his year was his consistency.”
Gomez Jr. scored more than 20 points in 10 of the 12 games in Mission Division play, and in both of the Sharks’ Central Coast Section playoff games.
The times he didn’t reach that marker was because they were ahead by a large margin, forcing Gomez Jr. to not play much in the fourth quarter.
Gomez Jr. finished with an average of 18.8 points per game in 25 games played, scoring a total of 471 points this past winter season, according to statistics on the Monterey Bay Preps website.
The Sharks standout was a sharpshooter from beyond the arc with a total of 89 3-pointers, and also led the Mission Division in steals while playing a full 32 minutes in most games.
“His basketball maturity stepped up big time, and he came to play on both sides of the ball every night,” Gomez said.
Marina senior Kaleb True and Hollister freshman Rudy Lopez Jr. were named the Mission Division’s co-Most Valuable Players for the 2025-26 season.
PV head coach Eddie Marin said Cervantes is a combo player who can play a forward/guard hybrid-type position, or as the skipper calls it the “point-forward”, with tons of potential and room for growth.
“[Cervantes] maturity level and the way he continues to improve every year have been amazing,” Marin said.
Cervantes played during some critical minutes this past winter campaign for PV, which were runners-up in the PCAL Santa Lucia standings. He was recording double-double numbers, finishing with an average of 14 points and 11 rebounds per game.
“[Cervantes’] leadership on and off the court has been great, and the sky is the limit for him this upcoming year,” Marin said.
The Grizzly standout said his sophomore season had a lot of great challenges. Cervantes added that seeing the game differently made him realize new ways to improve, letting the game come to him while making the team better.
“I feel honored to be chosen for such an award,” Cervantes said. “I appreciate everyone who’s been with me along the way, from teammates to coaches. I will continue to improve and learn a lot from my experiences, and work hard in the offseason.”
Kirby senior Chris Lively was named the Santa Lucia’s Most Valuable Player, while York sophomore Andrew Boyce took home the Defensive Player of the Year award.
Cervantes’ goal has always been to play at the college level, saying he’s willing to do anything to make that possible, starting by working hard and getting better every year.
“Basketball has always been on my mind since I was young, and it is sometimes my only way to escape reality and find joy and excitement,” he said.
Pacific Coast Athletic League All-League Boys Basketball Teams
Mission Division
Individual Awards
Most Valuable Players: Kaleb True (Sr.), Marina and Rudy Lopez Jr. (Fr.), Hollister
Offensive Player of the Year: Robert Gomez Jr. (Sr.), St. Francis
First Team
Kingston Salviejo, Rancho San Juan
Cooper Olin, Stevenson
Sebastian Jones, Alvarez
Kaleb True, Marina
Rudy Lopez Jr., Hollister
Robert Gomez, St Francis
Second Team
Darrian Kelly, Marina
Nate Kombe, Marina
Ray Bojorquez, Alvarez
Rollins Bastien, Hollister
Jacob Jimenez, St. Francis
Donovan Diaz, Hollister
Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship Team
AIdan Petrossi , Marina
Aiden Jones, Alvarez
Isaiah Villalobos, St Francis
Kody Dickens, Hollister
Jack Dalhamer, Stevenson
Marcos Garcia, RSJ
Conor Perez, North Monterey County
Santa Lucia Division
Individual Awards
Most Valuable Player: Chris Lively (Sr.), Kirby
Offensive Player of the Year: Alan Cervantes (So.), Pajaro Valley
Defensive Player of the Year: Andrew Boyce (So.), York
First Team
Chris Lively, Kirby
Alon Teragawa, Kirby
Juanito Montiel, Pajaro Valley
Alan Cervantes, Pajaro Valley
Andrew Boyce, York
Brady Ramones, Trinity Christian
Second Team
Henry Gorecki-Cook, Kirby
Jude Epega, York
Adrian Valdez, Pajaro Valley
Felix Io, Anzar
Xavier Contreras, Anzar
Rey Magana, Ceiba
Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship Team
Jerry Zhao, York
Manuel Florean, Kirby
Mario Ramirez, Pajaro Valley
Brayden Tollison, Anzar
Marcos Arellano, Ceiba
Nathan Leta, Monterey Bay Academy
Joel Torres, Trinity Christian
Elgie Bellizio All-Sportsmanship team
Ceiba
Cypress Division
Individual Awards
Most Valuable Player: Pedro Morales (Sr.), Soledad
First Team
Pedro Morales (Sr.), Soledad
Calvin DeShazo (So.), Soledad
Johell Carrillo (Sr.), King City
Jeremy Silver (Sr.), Monte Vista Christian
Matteo Vidal (Jr.), MVC
Andre Lizaola (Sr.), North Salinas
Second Team
Jeronimo Morales (So.), Soledad
Go Kamashita (Sr.), MVC
Johnny Miranda (Sr.), Greenfield
Fernando De Leon-Amador (Sr.), Gonzales
Tulua Timote (Sr.), Seaside
Angel Lizaola (Sr.), North Salinas
Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship Team
Jose Estrada (Sr.), Soledad
Niel Rader (So.), MVC
Benny Navarro (Sr.), North Salinas
Fernando Camacho (Sr.), King City
Frankie Hernandez (Sr.), Greenfield
Caine Viallanueva (Fr.), Seaside
Ian Bulfin (Sr.), Pacific Collegiate
Alex Hernandez (Fr.), Gonzales
Elgie Bellizio All-Sportsmanship team
Seaside
Gabilan Division
Individual Awards
Most Valuable Player: JT Herreld (Sr.), Palma
Offensive Player of the Year: Tai Suich (Jr.), Palma
Defensive Player of Year: Gabriel Valencia (Sr.), Pacific Grove
First Team
J.T. Harreld (Sr.), Palma
Tai Suich (Jr.), Palma
Gabriel Valencia (Sr.), Pacific Grove
Max Aceves (Sr.), Watsonville
Bryce Smith-Keeney (Jr.), Oakwood
Dekota Ordonio (Sr.), Monterey
Second Team
JJ Saucedo (Sr.), Palma
Andrew Nimri (Jr.), Pacific Grove
Bronson Gulley (Jr.), Monterey
Christian Lopez (Sr.), Alisal
Sebastian Reiser (Jr.), Carmel
Mikkah Claspell (So.), Salinas
Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship Team
Luke Hansotte, Oakwood
Diego Garcia, Watsonville
Aaron Dimaano-Antolin, Alisal
Bobby Pineda, Salinas
Don Desai, Carmel
Elgie Bellizio All-Sportsmanship team
Palma
