Just like last season, the De La Salle University’s Cameroonian student-athlete Ben Mbala is miles ahead of the rest of the field in the UAAP Men’s Basketball Most Valuable Player race.
The 22-year-old is leading the pack with a whopping 98 statistical points, as he leads the league in points at 30.4 per game; is number three in rebounds at 11.8; and is number three in blocks at 2.0 per contest. Moreover, he has led the Green Archers to a 5-2 start in the tournament.
Trailing behind is the Ateneo de Manila University’s all-around forward Thirdy Ravena with 66 SPs. The third-year Blue Eagle is fifth in the league in points at 14.9 per game and eighth in the league in rebounds with an 8.9 average. Ateneo, on the other hand, hold a perfect 7-0 record to end the opening round.
Last season’s runner-up to Mbala, Papi Sarr, trails Ravena by the thinnest of margins, accumulating 65.167 SPs. Sarr is 10th in the league in points at 12.7 rebounds, while leading the league in rebounds with 13.2 caroms per contest. The Adamson University are currently tied with La Salle in the standings at 5-2.
J-Jay Alejandro’s heroics for the National University Bulldogs did not go unnoticed, as he is currently fourth in the race with 62.71 SPs. The King Bulldog is fourth in the scoring department with 17.9 points per game, while topping the league in assists with 5.4 dimes per contest. He could have easily leapfrogged to the top two if not for the two penalties he incurred in the first round.
Closing out the top five is the league’s scoring machine Alvin Pasaol of the University of the East Red Warriors with 61.00 SPs. The burly forward is second in the league in scoring with an average of 22.4 per contest to go along with 5.1 rebounds.
If the mythical five will be decided today, Paul Desiderio of the University of the Philippines would be part of the all-UAAP team, as he is currently sixth in the race with 57.14 SPs.
