Ateneo’s Angela Koaume. UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — University of the Philippines’ Zavier Lucero emerged as the scoring leader after the first round of the UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball tournament.
Lucero, who posted his career-high 27 points in UP’s 83-76 victory over Far Eastern University on Saturday, averaged a league-best 15.29 points through seven games.
FEU’s rising star RJ Abarrientos, who scored a season-best 33 points against National University, ranked second after he averaged 14.86 points per game, while Adamson guard Jerom Lastimosa was not far behind in third with 14.43 points.
University of the East’s Harvey Pagsanjan was at No.4 with 13.86 points per game, while University of Santo Tomas’ Sherwin Concepcion normed 13.43 to round out the top five scorers in the first round.
Tied in sixth are Joshua Fontanilla of UST and Ange Kouame of Ateneo, who both tallied 12.86 averages in points, La Salle’s Justine Baltazar followed in eighth with 12.71 points while UST’s Nic Cabanero and Ateneo’s Dave Ildefonso are in joint 10th with 12.57 points apiece.
Kouame led the league in rebounding, averaging 12.29 boards after seven games. He was ahead of FEU’s Emman Ojuola, who averaged 12.0 rebounds; Adamson’s Lenda Douanga (10.29 rebounds) and La Salle big men Michael Phillips (9.86) and Baltazar (9.0).
Ojuola was on top of offensive rebounds with 5.43 offensive boards per game, leading Phillips (4.86) and Kouame (4.29).
UP point guard Joel Cagulangan was the assist leader after the first round with 4.43 dimes per game, ahead of UE’s Clint Escamis 4.29 assists, Lastimosa (3.71), Fontanilla (3.57), and Belangel (3.29).
In steals, Escamis and Schonny Winston were tied on top with identical 2.14 steals per game. Lucero and Vince Magbuhos of Adamson both had 2.0 steals, while Green Archer Evan Nelle was at fifth with 1.57 per outing.
Kouame also led the UAAP in blocks with 2.57 per game. UP’s Malick Diouf placed second with 1.86 blocks. Douanga and Phillips both had 1.43 rejections, while La Salle’s Bright Nwankwo was fifth with 1.29.
Lucero was second in total field goals, making 43 of his 69 shots for a 62.32 percent, not far from department leader Michael Malonzo of NU, who shot 25 of 40 (62.5-percent).
The Filipino-American forward was the most efficient player in two-point field goal percentage with a 71.7 percent clip, followed by Ateneo’s BJ Andrade (70 percent) and Belangel (65.52 percent); Malonzo (64.86 percent) and Cagulangan (62.5 percent).
Ateneo skipper Gian Mamuyac was the most efficient three-point shooter with a 44 percent clip. FEU’s Xyrus Torres ranked second with 43.9 percent three-point shooting, followed by four other Blue Eagles Tyler Tio and Jolo Mendoza, who are tied at third with 41.67 percent, Chris Koon (38.89 percent) and Ildefonso (37.84 percent).