Janrey Pasaol of Far Eastern University was officially crowned the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Most Valuable Player on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, joining a prestigious club of Tamaraws to achieve the honor.
The 21-year-old Davaoeño tallied 81.5 statistical points after the elimination round, edging out De La Salle University’s Mike Phillips (80.429) and University of Santo Tomas’ Collins Akowe (79.286) to claim the league’s top individual award.
The 5-foot-11 sophomore guard averaged 15.43 points (5th in the league), 4.14 rebounds, 7.5 assists (1st), and 2.14 steals (1st) per game, helping the Tamaraws finish with a balanced 7-7 record — good for fifth place.
Pasaol joins FEU legends Anthony Williams (Season 44, 1981), Glenn Capacio (Season 46, 1983), Johnny Abarrientos (Season 54, 1991), Arwind Santos (Seasons 67 & 68, 2004 & 2005), RR Garcia (Season 73, 2010), and Terrence Romeo (Season 76, 2013) as MVP awardees.
“Sobrang saya kasi pagkatapos ko ma-awardan ng MVP noong semis, may opportunity na agad sa SEA Games. Sobrang happy at nakabalik dito ng safe,” Pasaol said.
“Yung mga talo siguro namin na sobrang dikitan, siguro ‘yon yung kailangan namin baunin para sa next season, we can get over the hump,” he added.
Fresh from a stint with Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, Pasaol also received P30,000 from Yamaha for winning the MVP award and P50,000 as the Converge Super Player of the Season.
Joining Pasaol in the men’s Elite Team are Phillips, Akowe, National University’s Jake Figueroa, and UST’s Nic Cabanero — each receiving P10,000 in gift cheques from McDonald’s.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
This marks the third Elite Team selection for Phillips.
The graduating 6-foot-8 Filipino-American averaged 12.79 points, 14.93 rebounds (1st), 3.07 assists, and 1.43 steals (7th) per game, leading the Green Archers to an 8-6 record in the eliminations.
He also earned P30,000 as the Motolite Maasahan Player of the Season, P30,000 from Clear for Defensive Player of the Season, and P50,000 as the AIA Best Rebounder of the Season.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Nigerian center Collins Akowe, meanwhile, posted 16.43 points (3rd), 14.5 rebounds (2nd), 1.43 assists, and 1.43 blocks (3rd) in his rookie season for the Growling Tigers, who also finished 8-6.
Akowe, awarded P50,000 as the Cethaphil Fresh Face of the Season, became the first UST player to win Rookie of the Year since Mark Nonoy in Season 82 (2019).
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Figueroa, the UAAP Season 82 High School Boys’ MVP, ended his collegiate career with a first-time Elite Team selection after averaging 13.93 points, 7.21 rebounds (10th), 3.93 assists (7th), 2.14 steals (2nd), and 1.0 blocks (8th).
His performances helped NU achieve a league-best 11-3 record.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Cabanero, a graduating senior, made his second consecutive Elite Team appearance after leading the league in scoring at 16.79 points per game, alongside averages of 6.0 rebounds, 2.57 assists, and 1.14 steals. He also received P50,000 as the 2025 PSBankable Player.
The UST captain, together with University of the East’s Precious Momowei, also received P30,000 in cash and P10,000 worth of gift cheques as co-winners of the KFC Buckets of the Season Award.
