After 17 years, a Blazer has been hailed as the NCAA Seniors Basketball Most Valuable Player.
Will Gozum was crowned with NCAA Season 98’s top honor on Sunday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The transferee out of University of the Philippines averaged 17.17 points, 9.61 rebounds, 1.83 assists, and 1.11 blocks to accumulate 49.990 statistical points.
He is the third CSB player to win the MVP crown after Sunday Salvacion (2002) and Jay Sagad (2005).
“First of all, gusto ko mag-thank you sa mga teammates ko na laging nagtitiwala at sa mga coaches na naniwala sa akin. Nagpapasalamat ako sa Lasallian community na nagpunta dito kahit Sunday,” said the 6-foot-6 sweet-shooting forward.
“We will do our best to get that championship!”
Taking the Rookie of the Year plum is Arellano University’s Cade Flores.
The Fil-Australian, who used to be part of the Far Eastern University program, normed 12.47 points, 10.07 rebounds, 1.93 assists, 1.67 steals, and 1.07 blocks for 43.333 SPs.
Flores is the third Rookie of the Year that came from the Chiefs program after Dioncee Holts (2014) and Justin Arana (2019).
The 6-foot-4 banger is also the Defensive Player of the Year.
Joining Gozum and Flores in the Mythical Team are San Beda’s JB Bahio (42.611 SPs) and James Kwekuteye (41.5); and Letran’s King Caralipio (39.944).
Meanwhile, joining Flores, Bahio, and Gozum in the All-Defensive Team are Perpetual Help’s Mark Omega and San Sebastian’s Rommel Calahat.
Lyceum’s Shawn Umali was the Most Improved Player of the season after jumping from 109th last season to 22nd this season.
The Red Lions were given the Sportsmanship Award.
