Bullpups leading HS MVP race

c/o UAAP Media Team

COLLINS Akowe of the National University Nazareth School is proving once again to be the cream of the crop in UAAP High School Boys' Basketball.

With his stellar all-around performance, Akowe is on pace to secure back-to-back Most Valuable Player (MVP) crowns, leading the statistical race after the first round with an impressive 108.143 statistical points (SPs).

Through seven games, the 6-foot-10 Cameroonian, who is in Grade 12, has been a dominant force, averaging 21.14 points, 18.43 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 0.57 steals, and 1.86 blocks per game.

His presence in the paint has propelled the Bullpups to a sweep of the first round.

Trailing Akowe in the rankings is FEU-Diliman's Cabs Cabonilas, who holds second place with 90.429 SPs.

Cabonilas, a 6-foot-4, 18-year-old winger, has been key for the Baby Tamaraws, averaging 16.57 points, 11.43 rebounds, 4.43 assists, and 2.29 steals per game.

Completing the top three is UST's Senegalese forward Racine Kane, who has racked up 89.429 SPs behind averages of 17.43 points, 11.57 rebounds, 1.71 assists, 2.86 steals, and 1.86 blocks per game.

De La Salle Zobel's Kieffer Alas, a member of last season's Mythical Team, sits in fourth place with 87.143 SPs, while Adamson's Grade 11 floor general Mark Esperanza rounds out the top five with 85.143 SPs.

Alas has been a consistent scorer for the Junior Archers, averaging 19.0 points, 11.14 rebounds, and 4.57 assists per game, while Esperanza has dazzled with 17.43 points, 7.0 assists, 5.43 rebounds, and 2.14 steals per game.

Ateneo's Chris Urbina lands at sixth with 68.0 SPs, putting up 13.71 points, 7.14 assists, and 1.57 steals per game.

Completing the top 10 are FEU-Diliman's Marc Burgos (65.143 SPs), UST's Kirk Canete (61.571), Adamson's Earl Medina (61.143), and UPIS's Ethan Egea (60.143).

In the girls' division, Zhaydhen Rosano of NUNS has emerged as the frontrunner to cop the MVP tiara.

Rosano, a 16-year-old forward from Cebu, accumulated an impressive 113.0 statistical points (SPs), averaging 18.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 8.0 steals per game.

Hot on Rosano’s heels is UST's Barby Dajao, who ranks second with 105.667 SPs.

Dajao, a 19-year-old guard from Bacolod City, has been a dominant presence, averaging 15.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 5.7 steals per game.

La Salle’s Erica De Luna is third in the MVP race with 100.0 SPs, thanks to her league-leading scoring.

De Luna, an 18-year-old guard, has averaged 23.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 6.0 steals per game.

In fourth place is UST’s Rhiane Perez, who had 21 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals for 98.0 SPs in her lone outing.

UAAP rules though state that a student-athlete must play in 70-percent of the games to qualify for a post-season award.

NU’s Aubrey Lapasaran rounds out the top five with 92.333 SPs. Over three games, Lapasaran has averaged 21.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 4.0 steals.

UST's Jannah Wenceslao sits at sixth with 68.0 SPs.