Still in their peak form, the best players in the last two seasons topped the early race for the Most Valuable Player plum in the UAAP men’s volleyball tournament.
University of Santo Tomas’ Mark Alfafara and Ateneo’s Marck Espejo ruled the statistical race as competition approaches the halfway mark of the elimination round.
Alfafara, the Season 75 MVP, amassed a league-best 106 points built on 95 spikes, eight blocks and three service aces to help the Tigers grab a share of the second spot with a 4-1 record.
Espejo, who made history last season as the tournament’s first rookie MVP, ranked second with 93 points after collecting 78 attacks, eight blocks and seven service aces in the Blue Eagles’ 3-2 run.
University of the East rookie Edward Camposano (82 points), UST’s Romnick Rico (81 points) and National University’s Fauzi Ismail (76 points) rounded out the top-five performers.
Ismail also led the league in spiking with a success rate of 56.8 percent to power the defending champion Bulldogs to a perfect 5-0 record.
Two more Bulldogs topped other statistical categories, according to official league statistician TMX Sports.
Peter Torres, the Finals MVP in the Bulldogs’ title romp last year, paced the league in blocks with a 1.11 average per set, while teammate Vince Mangulabnan topped all servers with a 0.56 average per set.
Adamson libero Rence Melgar also looked on track for the best digger (3.05 average digs per set) and best receiver (46.89-percent efficiency rating) honors, while Ateneo’s Ish Polvorosa headed the race for best setter (9.11 average per set).
Volleyball action resumes tomorrow with the Bulldogs vying for a sixth straight triumph versus the University of the Philippines at 10 a.m., right after the 8 a.m. duel between Ateneo and UE at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
In the women’s division, La Salle and Ateneo try to stretch their unbeaten run versus separate opponents.
The defending champion Lady Eagles shoot for a fifth win versus the Lady Maroons at 2 p.m., while the Lady Spikers aim for a 6-0 card against the Lady Warriors at 4 p.m.