LAWRENCE Mangubat has the opportunity to replicate the feat of his coach Nani Epondulan as he's the provisional MVP frontrunner at the end of the NCAA Season 102 eliminations.
The Cebuano guard garnered a 45.917 PAV (players average value) after leading the Jose Rizal University to a top two finish in Group A.
Mangubat led the league in scoring with 17.08 points on top of collecting 5.75 rebounds, 3.58 assists, and 1.25 steals as he led the Heavy Bombers to the quarterfinals.
READ: Mangubat willingly takes lead in title-seeking JRU's story
He is on pace to follow the footsteps of Epondulan, who won the MVP honors back in 2001, and can become the first JRU player to win the top individual honors since John Wilson did it in 2009.
But for Mangubat to cop the hardware, the Heavy Bombers must reach the Final Four first as they are set for a collision course against Arellano.
The NCAA has an existing rule that only awards the plum to those players whose team reaches the semifinals.
San Beda star Aldous Torculas is currently at second with 44.846 PAV after notching 14.92 points, 6.46 rebounds, 2.15 assists, and 1.46 blocks in 13 games.
The Malabon City native is set to be named as the Rookie of the Year after a banner first season with the Red Lions.
He bested former UP teammate and current Letran winger Denzil Sison-Walker, who got 36.769 PAV, for the plum.
Letran court general Titing Manalili sits at third with 44.143 PAV as he made the seven-game quota for awards.
Once again, the Cebuano guard led the league in assists with 8.14 dimes to go with his 11.71 points, 3.86 rebounds, and 3.43 steals despite appearing only in seven games due to a sprained right knee.
Completing this year's Mythical Team selection are Mapua's Yam Concepcion and Arellano's T-Mc Ongotan.
Concepcion is at fourth with 42.846 PAV as he led the league in rebounding with 8.92 boards, which went with his 10.62 points, 3.08 assists, 1.54 steals, and 1.15 blocks.
Ongotan, meanwhile, had 41.333 PAV from his 16.33 points, 5.25 rebounds, and 2.83 assists.
Also in the top 10 of the MVP race were Benilde's Justine Sanchez (38.615 PAV), Emilio Aguinaldo College's MJ Raymundo (37.692 PAV), Letran's Jimboy Estrada (37.615 PAV), CSB's Jhomel Ancheta (37.538 PAV), and JRU's Chris Hubilla (37.300 PAV).
Letran's Justin Cargo is set to be named the Freshman of the Year after earning 30.769 PAV from his 10.08 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.23 assists, and 2.0 steals.
He edged Mapua's Jamal Diaz (24.308 PAV) for the honors.
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