As expected, La Salle's Kevin Quiambao is the frontrunner for UAAP Season 87 MVP.
The reigning and defending top individual player is actually lapping the field with 87.57 Statistical Points (SPs), but fellow Green Archer Mike Phillips is also running at third with 72.14 SPs.
READ: Even Kevin Quiambao was surprised by his career night in scoring
It's no surprise that the green-and-white's two Gilas Pilipinas players are standing out, as they aim for back-to-back championships.
Look just a little bit further down the list, however, and another of their teammates is also there.
Joshua David, the low-key, under the radar lead guard for La Salle stands at eighth with 55.86 SPs to his name.
"Nagulat din naman ako. Pero 'di ko naman iniisip yun kasi iniisip ko, yung team namin. Para sa'kin, yung mga individual award na yan, bonus na lang kasi naka-focus ako sa team namin, sa panalo namin," he answered when asked by SPIN.ph about his personal standing in terms of SPs.
He's right there alongside more heralded rivals such as the University of the Philippines' JD Cagulangan and Quentin Millora-Brown, University of the East's Precious Momowei, and University of Santo Tomas' Forthsky Padrigao and Nic Cabanero.
Just like his presence in the MVP race, his per game counts of 5.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.0 steals in close to 20 minutes played won't catch the eye of anybody.
Make no mistake, though, the graduating guard is very much key to the Green Archers' hopes of defending their title - especially as the point has been viewed as the chink in their armor no thanks to the exits of Evan Nelle and Mark Nonoy.
Being outstanding all while being overshadowed, however, is nothing new to him.
Ro-Vincent to Batmen
David, whose first name is Vincent Joshua, was the running mate to Cagulangan as La Salle Green Hills blazed their way to the top of NCAA Juniors.
The two - together with Inand Fornilos, Mark Sangco, and Sydney Mosqueda - led the Greenies to their first - and thus far, only - championship back in Season 93 in 2017.
As Cagulangan's star shone bright all throughout, David was always the silent operator with norms of 13.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.3 steals in their title run and then a year later, 13.6 markers, 6.8 boards, 3.2 dimes, and 1.3 pilfers in his last go-round in high school.
Cagulangan also took home MVP honors in Season 94, while David was named into the Mythical Team.
Propping up a more heralded teammate - and good friend, at that - all for the glory of the team has always been no problem for David, though.
"Ever since high school naman, and kahit nung magsimula akong maglaro, 'di ko talaga iniintindi yung mga stats na yan," he said.
At the close of their trailblazing high school tenures, Cagulangan made the move to keep donning the green-and-white as the Green Archers' point guard of the future.
David, for his part, followed suit not long after, only to trudge through an injury-riddled and pandemic-delayed start to his collegiate career.
Power of David
The 6-foot playmaker spent UAAP Season 82 in La Salle's Team B before the pandemic pressed pause on all play. Once action resumed, he unfortunately injured his knee just three days before his supposed debut in Season 84.
And so, he had to power through recovery and rehabilitation, as Taft Ave. welcomed with open arms Nelle, Nonoy, and Schonny Winston to make up for the losses of the likes of Aljun Melecio, Kib Montalbo, and Andrei Caracut.
Talented transferees and blue-chip recruits at guard kept coming to the Green Archers, meaning their homegrown player had to prove himself anew.
"Para sa'kin, sobrang blessing pa rin kasi kahit papa'no, nakabalik pa rin ako. Thankful lang ako na nakalaro ako ulit, kasi akala ko, wala na e," he said, as he had to persevere through tears in his ACL, MCL, and meniscus.
Prove himself anew, David did once he was healthy and back at full-strength, contributing 3.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 15 minutes of action in their march towards the Season 86 mountaintop.
Yet when he remained and Nelle and Nonoy departed, questions nonetheless popped up on who coach Topex Robinson could rely on in the La Salle backcourt for Season 87.
READ: Joshua David proof point guard no longer La Salle's Achilles heel
The answer, as it's turning out, has been right there in front of us, all along.
"Kahit sino naman sa'min, kaya magdala ng bola e, lalo na sa system namin. Kaya yung mga ganun, hinahayaan na lang namin," the product of Pampanga said, as he teams up with JC Macalalag, Doy Dungo, and Vhoris Marasigan to take care of the backcourt.
Make no mistake, however, David still isn't here for recognition. All that matters to him, like it always has, is to contribute to the team.
"'Di ko talaga iniisip yung mga personal-personal. Ngayon, iniisip ko lang yung kailangan naming magawa sa second round, knowing na yung ibang teams, mag-aadjust lalo sa'min. Alam na nila kung ano yung weakness namin, so kailangan din naming mag-adjust," he said.
As expected, the Green Archers' 1-2 punch is ahead of the pack in the MVP race.
Don't be surprised anymore if David, with no fanfare and without any fancy moves, stays right there with them, all in the name of doing his part in their title defense.
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