La Salle’s Kevin Quiambao is first local to win UAAP MVP in 8 years

La Salle forward Kevin Quiambao.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Kevin Quiambao became the first local UAAP Most Valuable Player in eight years after topping the statistical race in the Season 86 men’s basketball tournament.

After a stellar sophomore year, the La Salle star is set to be crowned as the Season MVP in Game 2 of the Finals on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Quiambao, who led the Green Archers’ return to the finals after a six-year drought, was the runaway statistical leader with 97.0 Statistical Points (SPs) way ahead of University of the East guard Noy Remogat, who tallied 85.93 SPs.

The versatile forward, who tallied two triple-doubles this season, averaged 16.7 points, 10.86 rebounds, 6.0 assists 1.9 steals in 14 games.

La Salle star Kevin Quiambao hangs from the rim during a UAAP game. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

The 22-year-old became the first local MVP since Ateneo guard Kiefer Ravena’s back-to-back reigns in 2014 and 2015 before foreign student-athletes won the last six seasons.

Quiamabao, last year’s Rookie of the Year, is also the first Green Archer to win the season MVP since Ben Mbala in 2016 and 2017. He became the fifth from La Salle also joining three-time winner Jun Limpot and two-time MVPs Mark Telan and Don Allado.

Quiambao and Remogat bannered the Mythical Team composed of La Salle guard Evan Nelle (77.54), last year’s MVP Malick Diouf of UP (74.77), and Far Eastern University graduating player L-Jay Gonzales (66.86).

Francis Lopez won the Rookie of the Year after placing seventh in the statistical race with 60.36 SPs, UE center Precious Momowei was the top freshman in the race with 66.77 SPs but his one-game suspension due to two unsportsmanlike fouls disqualified him from winning any individual award.

Lopez followed the footsteps of Carl Tamayo, who was the top rookie in Season 84 last year.

University of Santo Tomas star Nic Cabañero was eighth in the race with 60.14 SPs, while National University duo Kean Baclaan and Jake Figueroa, who had 59.5 SPs each, completed the top 10.

The UAAP men’s basketball Finals, featuring La Salle and University of the Philippines for the first time ever, tips off later at 6 p.m. at Mall of Asia Arena.