PBA-bound Almazan named MVP, best defensive player in NCAA season 89

Raymond Almazan (right) INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines—Raymond Almazan is having a great week.

Just days after getting plucked third overall by Rain or Shine in the 2013 PBA Draft, Almazan on Thursday was officially named the NCAA season 89 seniors’ basketball Most Valuable Player.

The PBA-bound center from Bataan amassed 55.61 statistical points to top the MVP race, according to the numbers provided by the league.

Almazan edged San Beda’s Nigerian center Ola Adeogun (50.33 SPs), Perpetual Help’s Harold Arboleda (46.78 SPs) and Nosa Omorgbe (44.71 SPs) and Emilio Aguinaldo’s Noube Happy (46.56).

Earlier, Letran’s lanky center steered the Knights back into the finals with an incredible statline of 19 points, 23 rebounds, and nine block in the 85-58 win over San Sebastian.

Before he makes his debut in the pro-league, Almazan has declared that he has a business to finish in the NCAA as he tries to power Letran to a championship against San Beda, with the best-of-three series starting next week.

Almazan also proved worthy of the Defensive Player of the Year citation, averaging 7.83 boards, 2.72 blocks and 0.61 steals.

Meanwhile, Altas’ Juneric Baloria—who had a tremendous season for the Aric Del Rosario-mentored squad, was adjudged the Rookie of the Year.

Baloria finished 11th in the SPs ranking, followed by San Sebastian’s Bradwyn Guinto, who ranked 13th.

Jose Rizal University’s Michael Mabulac, on the other hand, was named the Most Improved Player, jumping 31 places higher from 43 to 12 in the SP rank.

In the juniors’ division, St. Benilde-La Salle Greenhills’ Prince Rivero came out as the MVP by an overwhelming margin.

Rivero had 67.17 statistical points while JRU’s Jeric Adorio was a distant second with 52.61 SPs, followed by Kobe Paras with 50.35, Staglets’ Michael Calisaan and Rhanzelle Yong with 46.94 and 46.50, respectively.

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