Ben Mbala. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
As expected, La Salle’s Ben Mbala is tipped to repeat as UAAP MVP as he leads the statistical race at the end of the first round.
The Green Archers center is well ahead of every one with his 98.0 SPs after averaging 30.4 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 1.2 steal, and 1.0 block per game despite seeing action for just five games.
Mbala missed La Salle’s first two games due to his obligations with the Cameroonian national team, where he was the country’s top performer in the 2017 Afrobasket.
But he picked up where he left off in his return to lead the Green Archers to a 5-2 slate.
At distant second is Ateneo forward Thirdy Ravena, who got 66.0 SPs after averaging 14.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 2.7 assists after helping the Blue Eagles sweep the first round.
In close third is Adamson center Papi Sarr with 65.17 SPs, followed by NU guard J-Jay Alejandro with 62.71 SPs, and high-scoring Alvin Pasaol of UE with 61.0 SPs.
Rounding out the top 10 are UP guard Paul Desiderio (57.14 SPs), Ateneo big man Chibueze Ikeh (55.57 SPs), NU center Issa Gaye (53.29 SPs), La Salle guard Aljun Melecio (52.5 SPs), and UST center Steve Akomo (51.0 SPs).
Meanwhile, UP playmaker Juan Gomez de Liaño is the top rookie after the first round wit 39.57 SPs, followed by teammate Jun Manzo with 34.0 SPs.