La Salle’s Ben Mbala. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
The best and brightest varsity players in the season that passed gather Thursday night for the Collegiate Basketball Award that will be highlighted by the presentation of the Smart Player of the Year at Montgomery Place Social Hall in Quezon City.
Among the frontrunners for the top individual award given by the UAAP and NCAA Press Corps are La Salle stars Ben Mbala and Jeron Teng as well as Mapua’s Allwell Oraeme, Jio Jalalon of Arellano and San Beda’s Javee Mocon who also make up the Mighty Sports Mythical Five.
Backed by Smart, Accel, Chooks to Go, MJM Productions and Mighty Sports, the ceremony will be hosted by 2016 Mutya ng Pilipinas Asia Pacific International Ganiel Krishnan.
Aldin Ayo will collect his second straight Coach of the Year award for guiding De La Salle to the UAAP title. He shares the honor with Jamike Jarin who mentored San Beda to the NCAA title.
La Salle’s Kib Montalbo and San Beda’s Davon Potts will be cited with Pivotal Player honors, while UP’s Jett Manuel and FEU’s Raymar Jose are Super Senior awardees.
Adamson center Papi Sarr is Mr. Efficiency, while Paul Desiderio of UP is the Chooks to Go Breakout Player. —CEDELF P. TUPAS