SHOWCASING his prowess all season long, Kevin Quiambao is set to be crowned as back-to-back MVP.
The Gilas Pilipinas forward stood head-and-shoulders over the field and will once again be the top individual achiever after leading La Salle to the top seed of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.
Quiambao amassed 81.357 statistical points (SPs) from his league-best 16.64 points from 30.69-percent shooting from deep, together with his 8.64 rebounds (sixth-best in the league), 4.07 assists (fourth-best), and 1.0 steal in 30 minutes of play.
He will become the fifth Lasallian to claim back-to-back UAAP MVP honors after Ben Mbala (2016 and 2017), Don Allado (1998 and 1999), Mark Telan (1996 and 1997), and Jun Limpot (1987 and 1988).
The Bayanan, Muntinlupa native is also the first local to accomplish the feat since Ateneo’s Kiefer Ravena did it in 2014 and 2015.
His fellow Green Archer Michael Phillips finished second in the MVP race with 74.928 SPs powered by his 12.0 points (seventh-best), 11.57 boards (third-best), 1.71 steals (second-best), and 1.07 blocks (fourth-best).
It will be his second Mythical Team selection after making it in his rookie year back in Season 84.
The University of the Philippines guard JD Cagulangan also earned his place in the top five with 69.167 SPs after averaging 11.75 points (eighth-best), 5.0 assists (second-best), and a league-best 1.75 steals in helping the Fighting Maroons clinch the two-seed.
Far Eastern University’s defensive demon Mo Konateh is also part of the list after becoming the best performing foreign student-athlete with 68.643 SPs, all while topping the league with 16.71 rebounds and 2.36 blocks to go with 10.21 points.
Rounding out the Mythical Team is University of Santo Tomas scorer Nic Cabanero who had 61.0 SPs from his second-best mark of 16.29 points, on top of 5.43 boards and 1.93 assists, as he led the Growling Tigers back to the Final Four for the first time since 2019.
He got the nod after nosing out UST teammate Forthsky Padrigao, with the black-and-gold court general notching 58.714 SPs from his league-best mark of 6.07 assists.
Rounding out the top 10 of the MVP ladder are La Salle guard Joshua David (54.786 SPs), National University’s Jake Figueroa (53.571 SPs), and the UP pair of Quentin Millora-Brown (52.769 SPs) and Francis Lopez (50.929 SPs).
University of the East’s Precious Momowei, fifth in the SP race with 67.538, and UST’s Mo Tounkara, who is seventh with 60.154, are ineligible for end of season awards after serving respective one-game suspensions through the course of eliminations.
Rookie of the Year, Pre!
Tireless FEU forward Veejay Pre will then claim Rookie of the Year honors after racking 50.857 SPs, built from his numbers of 13.29 points (fourth-best) and 7.0 rebounds (ninth-best) - good for 11th in the MVP race.
He becomes the first Tamaraw to win the top neophyte distinction after Terrence Romeo did it in 2010, while also joining an illustrious list which includes JR Cawaling (2007), Arwind Santos (2002), Leo Avenido (1999), Mark Victoria (1996), and Johnny Abarrientos (1989).
Pre edged Ateneo point guard Jared Bahay for the plum, with the Cebuano playmaker collecting 47.0 SPs to finish 12th on the list.
Also in the top five rookies list were FEU’s Janrey Pasaol (45.143 SPs), Ateneo’s Kristian Porter (37.0 SPs), and La Salle’s Doy Dungo (30.154 SPs).
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