For the third straight season, the NCAA Most Valuable Player is a transferee from the UAAP.
Clint Escamis has been hailed the NCAA Season 99 Seniors Basketball Most Valuable Player, winning the award via a wide margin.
Escamis, 23, garnered 53.16 PAV – way ahead of the rest of the field to win the top honor in the league.
As a transferee, he was also the Rookie of the Year.
Escamis dazzled in the elimination round, averaging 16.28 points, 5.83 rebounds, 4.22 assists, and 3.78 steals per game.
Escamis transferred from University of the East to Mapua a year ago.
The last two MVPs of the league were former UST winger Rhenz Abando (Letran) and ex-UP big man Will Gozum (CSB).
Others who won MVP in their first year in the Grand Old League were San Beda’s Sam Ekwe in 2006, Philippine Christian University’s Gabby Espinas in 2004, Mapua’s Allwell Oraeme in 2015, and Abando in 2021*.
Joining Escamis in the Mythical Team are Lyceum’s Enoch Valdez (44.82 PAV), Perpetual’s Jun Roque (41.5), EAC’s JP Maguliano (41.27), and Mapua’s Warren Bonifacio (39.33).
Roque was also the Most Improved Player, rising from being the 111th-ranked player last season to third this year.
San Sebastian’s Romel Calahat was crowned the Defensive Player of the Year and was joined by Valdez, Escamis, Maguliano, and Arellano’s Lorenz Capulong in the All-Defensive Team.
Meanwhile, Letran’s Jay Garupil is the league’s first-ever Freshman of the Year. Mapua’s Peter Rosillio was the front-runner to win the award but was disqualified due to suspension.
