Barring any mishaps, Nigerian student-athlete Bright Akhuetie is set to be named as the UAAP Season 81 Men’s Basketball Most Valuable Player.
He will be the first Fighting Maroon to win the top individual plum in 32 years. The last Fighting Maroon to win the crown was Eric Altamirano back in 1986.
Akhuetie, who transferred to UP from Perpetual two years ago, accumulated 82.5 Statistical Points coming from his norms of 18.9 points, 14.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.1 steals.
Ateneo rookie Angelo Kouame is second in the race, as his 14.4 points, 13.6 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks norms resulted in 76.21 SPs.
Though Kouame will not be part of the All-UAAP team due to the league’s rule that only one foreign student-athlete can make it to that selection, the Ivorian student-athlete is set to win the Rookie of the Year plum. He is eligible to win the award since he graduated from a Philippine-based high school (Multiple Intelligence) within the calendar year.
Joining Akhuetie in the Mythical Team are Alvin Pasaol (UE – 74.57 SP), Juan Gomez de Liano (UP – 63.85), Justine Baltazar (DLSU – 62.28), and Jerrick Ahanmisi (ADU – 58.38).
