Lady Tam Sambile, Eaglet Ravena pace MVP derby
FAR Eastern University’s Camille Sambile emerged as the runaway leader in the women’s MVP race, while Ateneo’s Thirdy Ravena topped the tight battle in the juniors side of the UAAP basketball tournament.
Sambile powered the Lady Tamaraws to a seven-game sweep of the first round to finish with 89.28 statistical points (SP), which was more than 20 ahead of her closest pursuer.
Ravena, the younger brother of Ateneo seniors star Kiefer Ravena, amassed 74.42 SP after leading the Blue Eaglets to a second-best record (5-2) behind the unbeaten National University (7-0).
Sambile paced the league both in points scored at 19.7 ppg and steals at 4.6 spg aside from averaging 11.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.4 blocks.
Just last week, FEU’s Terrence Romeo also came out on top of the men’s MVP contest as the Tamaraws similarly swept the first round.
A member of the national youth team, Thirdy proved to be another talented Ravena as he averaged 19 points, 9.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists.
His teammate Michael Nieto ranked second with 73.16 SP, but he can no longer qualify for the top award after getting slapped with a one-game suspension in the first round.
Completing the top five based on the official numbers released yesterday by league statistician Imperium Technology and Smart Bro were NU’s Mark Dyke with 68.57 SP (14.9 points, 11.7 rebounds), Adamson’s Reiner Quinga with 68.57 SP (17.1 points, 14.9 rebounds, 2.9 blocks) and De La Salle Zobel’s Henri Subido with 67.85 SP (league-best 23.1 points, 2.4 steals).
In the women’s side, NU’s Afril Bernardino finished second with 67 SP built on averages of 12.4 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks.
Rounding out the top five women’s players, who all posted double-double averages, were University of Santo Tomas’ Maica Cortes with 65.42 SP (13.7 points, 13.9 rebounds), La Salle’s Ara Abaca with 62.28 SP (13 points, 10.9 rebounds) and Ateneo’s Danica Jose with 60.71 SP (10.7 points, league-best both in rebounds at 14.3 rpg and blocks at 4.6 bpg).
