REGARDLESS of the suspensions and disqualifications, Prince Eze would still have ended up with the NCAA Season 94 MVP in the seniors division.
The Lyceum crowd made its displeasure known during the awarding ceremonies on Monday, in the belief that Pirates star CJ Perez deserved the league's highest individual honor more than the Nigerian slotman.
The numbers, though, revealed otherwise.
Eze was the clear victor in the statistical points race, netting 61.39 PAV (player all-around value) after averaging 18.2 points, 16.5 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks for the season.
In comparison, Perez was second with his 58.28 PAV after netting 18.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4.0 assists.
Unfortunately, the league slapped the Season 80 MVP a one-game suspension for failing to inform the league in writing of his intention to apply for the 2018 PBA Rookie Draft. That automatically disqualified him from any yearend awards, including this year's Mythical Team selection.
Eze sympathized with the versatile swingman.
"I wish CJ was here also," he said.
But Eze himself was a victim of the another misfortune last year. The runaway stats leader in the MVP race, the Perpetual center failed to win last year's plum as the Altas failed to make it to the Final Four.
"Life is not fair," he sighed. "CJ is the MVP last season, but I was leading and we didn't get to the Final Four."
If Eze would have his way, he would gladly trade the MVP award for a chance to play in the championship round the same way San Beda and Lyceum does.
"San Beda, look at that team. They're tall. Lyceum has a good team. My team is fair, but we have to deal with what we have," he said. "I wish that I was out there right now but this is basketball. We started from scratch but our coach tells us to have no excuses"
That's why for Eze, he hopes that no one rains on his parade as everything he has achieved this season is the fruit of all his labor.
"If they want this, they should go get it. Last season, I didn't make the playoffs and I was not happy. But I feel much better now," he said.
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