FROM teammates in the University of the Philippines, Aldous Torculas and Denzil Sison-Walker now find themselves on opposite ends of the NCAA's greatest rivalry in San Beda-Letran.
Not only that, the former Fighting Maroons are actually also the top contenders for an individual award in Season 102.
Torculas of the Red Lions is the current favorite for Rookie of the Year after ammassing 44.778 Player Adjusted Value (PAV), based on SPIN.ph's unofficial computations, by posting per game counts of 16.33 points, 6.33 rebounds, 2.22 assists, 1.44 blocks, and 1.22 steals.
Walker of the Knights, though, remains within striking distance with 39.0 PAV built on averages of 14.22 points, 4.78 rebounds, 1.44 assists, and 1.78 steals.
How is this possible?
Wondering how Torculas and Walker, who had both already played two years for UP in the UAAP, are candidates to be the 'Grand Ol' League's' RoY?
It's all because the NCAA has come up with a distinction between its Rookie of the Year and its Freshman of the Year. The former is up for grabs for players in their first year in the league, whether they be high school recruit or transferee. The latter, meanwhile, is reserved for players straight out of high school.
In this light, the Knights' Justin Cargo leads all contenders for Freshman of the Year with 31.333 PAV behind norms of 10.22 points, 3.11 rebounds, 2.22 assists, and 2.44 steals.
Jamal Diaz of Mapua is a distant second with 25.444 PAV in logging 8.44 points, 2.67 rebounds, and 1.33 assists.
In the MVP race, Letran's Titing Manalili is being chased by Arellano's T-Mc Ongotan.
READ: Letran's Manalili on pace for NCAA Season 102 MVP. But...
Basti Valencia of Arellano, Kevin Santos of Letran, Cyrus Nitura of Mapua, and Wilmar Oftana of EAC are all ineligible for the end-of-season awards after being handed suspensions.
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