La Salle’s Kevin Quiambao.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — La Salle ace Kevin Quiambao is on pace to be a back-to-back UAAP MVP after leading the statistical race in the first round of the Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.
Quiambao, last year’s runaway MVP winner, had a league-leading 87.571 statistical points (SPs) after averaging a league-best 16.43 points on top of 8.86 rebounds, 5.43 assists, and 1.29 steals in seven games.
The last Green Archers to win two consecutive MVP awards was Ben Mbala in 2016 and 2017.
READ: UAAP: Loss to UE lit a fire under La Salle, admits Kevin Quiambao
Quiambao, the third-year forward who was also last season’s Finals MVP, led the Green Archers to a 6-1 finish for first place in the first round after beating the erstwhile-unbeaten University of the Philippines, 68-56, on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.
UP’s senior guard JD Cagulangan is second in the race with 77.0 SPs despite missing the last two games.
Cagulangan averaged 13.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 6.0 assists in five games as the Fighting Maroons won six but their last first-round game against the Green Archers.
READ: UAAP: La Salle hands UP its first loss to claim No. 1 spot
La Salle’s big man Mike Phillips, a Season 84 Mythical Team member, ranked third with 72.143 SPs, averaging, 10.0 points, 11.57 rebounds, 2.43 assists, 1.71 steals, and 1.0 blocks in seven games.
University of the East star Precious Momowei, who was disqualified from contending for the Rookie of the Year award last season following a suspension, is fourth with 68.286 SPs, followed by the league’s rebounding leader Mohamed Konateh of Far Eastern University with 63.571 SPs. Only one of the two foreign student-athletes is eligible to win a Mythical Team award.
University of Santo Tomas point guard and assist leader Forthsky Padrigao is sixth with 62.429 Sps, followed by his teammates Mo Tounkara (60.0) and Nic Cabanero (55.857). La Salle guard Joshua David placed ninth with 55.857 SPs, while UP’s one-and-done center Quentin Millora-Brown completed the top 10 with 54.714 SPs.