SAN Sebastian’s Ian Sangalang is set to formally dethrone teammate Calvin Abueva as the NCAA MVP.
In an Instagram picture posted on Season 88 chairman Fr. Vic Calvo’s Twitter account @victor88calvo, the Dominican priest listed the top candidates for this year’s individual awards on Monday night.
Abueva remained the leader in total statistical point value, but is ineligible to win any individual award after he was slapped with a disqualifying foul in the Stags’ 83-75 second-round win over Lyceum.
Thus, 20-year-old Sangalang, who finished the elimination round with averages of 19.9 points, 12.5 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, and 1.1 steals, emerged as the frontrunner to win the MVP plum.
The 6-foot-6 slotman from Pampanga leads the mythical team, which also features Letran’s Kevin Alas, San Beda’s Jake Pascual, Emilio Aguinaldo College’s Cedric Happi Noube, and Perpetual Help’s Earl Thompson.
The 19-year-old Thompson, the Altas’ sophomore swingman from Digos City, is also set to be named the league’s Most Improved Player after moving 50 spots up to No. 6 in this year’s player rankings. Jet Vidal, Thompson’s teammate, ranked second after placing 16th this season from 42nd a year ago.
Happi Noube, the Generals’ Cameroonian center, is set to become the league’s top freshman.
In another tweet, Calvo declared the Knights’ Raymond Almazan as the league’s Defensive Player of the Year.
The 6-foot-7 Almazan, who had gone on a mysterious two-month absence, came back in time to lead the league in blocks with 1.9 rejections a game and rank fifth in rebounds with 9.2 caroms a contest.
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