UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas star Angge Poyos has surged to the top of the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball MVP race halfway through the tournament, building a comfortable cushion over the rest of the field.
The Season 86 Rookie of the Year amassed 156.22 statistical points (SP) through seven games ahead of her closest challenger in Adamson’s Shaina Nitura, last season’s top rookie.
Poyos has powered the Golden Tigresses to a 4–3 record and stands third in scoring after the first round with 111 points, coming off 95 attacks, 12 blocks, and four service aces.
She currently owns the best spiking efficiency rate in the league at 39.92-percent, underscoring her role as UST’s primary scoring engine.
Nitura, meanwhile, remains within striking distance with 147.200 SPs, while La Salle star Angel Canino sits third with 142.800 SPs.
Fresh off a historic rookie campaign last season, Nitura paced the first round scoring race with 136 points built on 124 attacks, eight blocks, and four aces, while ranking fifth in spiking efficiency at 36.9-percent.
Adamson's sophomore captain has also made her presence felt on the defensive end, placing eighth in digs at 2.20 per set and eighth in receptions with 39.16-percent efficiency, making her one of the most well-rounded players in the tournament.
Canino, the Season 85 rookie MVP, has likewise delivered across multiple fronts for the Lady Spikers. She ranked fourth in scoring with 107 points from 92 attacks, 10 blocks, and five aces, while sitting sixth in spiking efficiency at 36.65-percent.
She has also contributed heavily to the green-and-white floor defense, ranking sixth in reception efficiency at 39.82-percent.
Another Lady Falcon in Frances Mordi and FEU’s Gerz Petallo complete the top five after the first round.
Mordi, San Marcelino's Nigerian open spiker, sits fourth with 139.200 SPs, continuing to anchor the offense alongside Nitura.
Petallo is close behind at fifth with 137.500 SPs, emerging as the Lady Tamaraws' top scoring option and one of the most productive wing spikers in the tournament so far before her fitness setback on her right arm.
Completing the top 10 are La Salle captain Shevana Laput, who ranks sixth with 131.600 SPs, followed by FEU middle blocker Jaz Ellarina in seventh with 126.667 SPs.
National U super rookie Sam Cantada checks in at eighth with 123.704 SPs, while UST opposite spiker Reg Jurado holds ninth place with 120.000 SPs.
Rounding out the leaderboard is Adamson setter Fhei Sagaysay, who cracks the list at 10th with 118.000 SPs.
Sam rises among rookies
Cantada has compiled 123.704 SPs, putting her comfortably ahead of the Rookie of the Year race while also cracking the top 10 of the overall MVP race.
Trailing the NU first-year standout is La Salle playmaker Eshana Nunag, who sits second among rookies with 109.600 SPs, while Ateneo's Ana Hermosura is at third with 95.417 SPs.
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