Soulemane Chabi Yo of the University of Santo Tomas and Angelo Kouame of the Ateneo de Manila University will enter the second round of the UAAP Season 82 Men’s Basketball Tournament in a tight race for the league’s top individual award.
Beninese Chabi Yo holds a 1.28 statistical points lead over Ivorian Kouame, 82.71 to 81.43 SPs.
Chabi Yo, a transferee from Colegio de San Lorenzo, averaged 19.9 points, 15.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.9 blocks in seven games played, while Kouame normed 14.0 points, 13.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.3 steals, and 4.9 blocks per contest.
Kouame has led the Blue Eagles to a 7-0 record so far while Chabi Yo’s Growling Tigers are three games behind at 4-3.
Completing the top five are reigning MVP Bright Akhuetie of UP with 69.0 SP, Kobe Paras of UP with 65.2, and Alex Diakhite of UE with 64.83.
The All-UAAP team is determined by position registered, though, which means that Chabi Yo will be joined by Paras (no. 3 with 65.2 SP), UE guard Rey Suerte (6, 61.5), La Salle small forward Jamie Malonzo (7, 61.5), and Adamson’s Val Chauca (11, 50.71).
Makr Nonoy of UST leads the Rookie of the Year race via a wide-margin. Nonoy is at no. 28 with 38.29 SP — way ahead of next rookie Sherwin Concepcion, who only has 33.86 SPs.
