UAAP: UST stars Angge Poyos, Josh Ybañez lead MVP race
UST’s Angge Poyos dives for the ball during a game against FEU in the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament.-Poyos leads the MVP statistical race after the first round.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — University of Santo Tomas stars Angge Poyos and Josh Ybañez lead the MVP race in their respective divisions after the UAAP Season 88 collegiate volleyball tournaments’ first round.
Poyos, who led UST to a 4-3 finish in the first round, is on top of the women’s volleyball statistical race with 156.22 statistical points.
The Season 86 Rookie of the Year ranks third in scoring with 111 points from 95 spikes, 12 blocks, and four aces. She also topped the spiking efficiency with a 39.92 percent success rate after seven games.
READ: UAAP: Angge Poyos vows to be better for UST after ‘inconsistent’ season
The last time a UST player won women’s volleyball MVP was seven years ago in Season 81, when Sisi Rondina led the Tigresses to a runner-up finish.
Poyos leads last year’s best rookie, Shaina Nitura of Adamson, by 9.322 statistical points.
Nitura is in No. 2 after the first round with 147.200 statistical points, while La Salle’s Angel Canino follows with 142.800 SP.
After her record-breaking rookie season, Nitura continues to top all players in scoring with 136 points from 124 attacks, eight blocks, and four aces. The Lady Falcon ranks fifth in spiking efficiency at 36.9 percent and also in the top 10 in defense, ranking eighth in digs, 2.20 per set, and eighth in receptions with 39.16 percent efficiency.
Canino, the Season 85 Rookie MVP, is fourth in scoring with 107 points from 92 attacks, 10 blocks, and five aces, and sixth in spiking at 36.65 percent efficiency. The Alas Pilipinas star is sixth in receptions with 39.82 percent efficiency.
Completing the women’s top five in the MVP race are Adamson’s Nigerian open spiker Frances Mordi with 139.200 SP and Far Eastern University’s Gerzel Petallo with 137.500 SP.
La Salle captain Shevana Laput (131.600 SP) is currently sixth in the statistical race, followed by FEU middle blocker Jaz Ellarina (126.667 SP), NU rookie Sam Cantada (123.704 SP), UST opposite spiker Reg Jurado (120.000 SP), and Adamson setter Fhei Sagaysay (118.000 SP).
READ: UAAP: Josh Ybañez scores 29 as UST rallies past Ateneo
UST’s Josh Ybañez during a game against FEU in UAAP Season 88 men’s volleyball tournament.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Meanwhile, Ybañez is on pace to win his third men’s MVP plum after leading the first round with 158.000 SP, beating fellow Alas stars from National University, Buds Buddin and Leo Ordiales.
Ybañez recorded 121 points in the first round with 110 spikes, seven aces, and four blocks, ranking third in the league.
The Season 85 Rookie MVP is also fifth in spiking (41.98 percent success) and service (0.28 aces per set), while his defense ranks second in the UAAP with 62.14 percent efficiency, helping the Golden Spikers achieve a 5-2 record.
Buddin and Ordiales are also in pursuit of the MVP with 153.750 SP and 152.083 SP, respectively.
Buddin tallied 106 points for fifth place, ranked sixth in spiking (41.23 percent efficiency), and led the league in service with 13 aces (0.54 per set).
Ordiales scored 109 points and finished in the top 10 in spiking, blocking, and service. His 44.33 percent attack success ranks third, his 0.71 block average per set ranks fifth, and he is seventh in service with 0.25 aces per set.
The unbeaten Far Eastern University duo of Dryx Saavedra (127.083 SP) and Mikko Espartero (124.583 SP) are fourth and fifth in the men’s race, followed by their middle blocker Lirick Mendoza at sixth with 124.167 SP.
University of the Philippines’ Olayemi Raheem and University of the East’s Raquim Aceron, the league’s top two scorers, are seventh and eighth with 120.741 SP and 120.385 SP, respectively. NU open hitter Jade Disquitado (120.000 SP) and FEU wing spiker Amet Bituin (110.167 SP) complete the top 10.
