Baron is UAAP MVP; Jaja reaps three awards

Majoy Baron. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net (FILE)

(Updated, 9:45 a.m.) Mary Joy Baron has long made a reputation of being one of the best defensive players in the UAAP after winning the Best Blocker award in Season 78.

On Wednesday, La Salle’s imposing middle presence just made a case of being purely the best.

Baron edged out everyone and won the Season 79 MVP award, beating the likes of National University’s Jaja Santiago, Far Eastern University’s Bernadeth Pons, and teammate Kim Kianna Dy.

READ: DLSU’s Baron outplays NU in duel against Santiago

La Salle finished the season with an 11-3 record and Baron was essential in keeping the Lady Spikers’ aerial defense on check.

Santiago, who’s long been a contender for the MVP, was named as Season 79’s Best Scorer, Best Spiker, and Best Blocker.

The graduating Kim Fajardo won her second straight Best Setter award—her third, overall—while also being named as the season’s Best Server.

La Salle’s dynamic libero Dawn Macandili earned her second straight Best Receiver award while University of the East’s Kath Arado was the Best Digger.

Ateneo’s low-key freshman Jules Samonte was this season’s Rookie of the Year.

In the men’s volleyball landscape, Ateneo’s Marck Espejo earned his fourth straight MVP award after leading the defending champions to an immaculate 14-0 card in the eliminations.

READ: Championships worth more than MVP awards for Espejo

Espejo also took the Best Spiker and Best Scorer plums while teammate Chumason Njigha was named as the Rookie of the Year.

Ish Polvorosa also made history for Ateneo when his partnership with Espejo earned him his fourth straight Best Setter award.

NU stalwarts Ricky Marcos and Bryan Bagunas were named as the season’s Best Digger and Best Server,respectively.

FEU’s John Paul Bugaoan and Rikko Marketo were awarded the Best Blocker and Best Receiver trophies, respectively. IDL