UAAP men’s basketball definitely comes to mind when talking about the most exciting hoops competition in the country. The unbeatable energy of the crowd, the all-out effort from the players, and the unwavering desire to win for school pride simply elevate the entire tourney into a class of its own. With the games kicking off on Saturday, the overflowing excitement has compelled us to do one risky exercise.
Yep, we bravely gave our way-too-early predictions for the upcoming season’s major individual awards. We know that not a single UAAP game has been played, so we might’ve dug ourselves into a hole. But is it what it is. We’re too hyped not to go through with it.
MVP - Malick Diouf, UP Fighting Maroons
We see the Senegalese center winning back-to-back MVP honors. Last season, he averaged 10.8 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.6 blocks, and 1.5 steals in 14 games to win the plum. With the departure of prolific big man Carl Tamayo, the Fighting Maroons might need to lean on Diouf a bit more. If that happens, his numbers will probably increase, which should make him a frontrunner to win his second straight MVP trophy.
Rookie of the Year - Mason Amos, Ateneo Blue Eagles
At 6-foot-7, the 19-year-old stretch big has already shown that he can be a serviceable player for Gilas Pilipinas. In his debut during the sixth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, Amos went 3-of-3 from deep and dropped 13 points on Lebanon. And although he was used sparingly, his ultimately successful Southeast Asian [SEA] Games stint with the national squad should’ve been a significant learning experience. With that, he should be fully prepared to win the UAAP Rookie of the Year trophy.
Mythical Five
C - Malick Diouf, UP Fighting Maroons
He’s our pick for MVP so this one’s a no-brainer.
F - Michael Phillips, De La Salle Green Archers
Like Amos, Motor Mike also suited up for Gilas in the SEA Games. Garnering all the valuable experience he’s had, the 6-foot-8 workhorse should be due for a rock-solid season for DLSU entering his third year. He’s been a UAAP Mythical Five member in Season 84. We expect him to grab 20 rebounds or more in at least a couple of games en route to his second Mythical Five selection.
F - Kai Ballungay, Ateneo Blue Eagles
High-flying Kai will likely play a leadership role for the defending champs. After all, no one is more suited to fill the gap that Dave Ildefonso and Ange Kouame left. With great athleticism and the growth that he has shown in Ateneo’s preseason buildup, which included an atomic game-winning slam, Ballungay should end up in the UAAP All-Star Five.
G - Nic Cabañero, UST Growling Tigers
Cabañero led Season 85 in scoring with an average of 17.6 points per game. Supported by returning coach Pido Jarencio and an improved roster, the reigning King Tiger might just break out and earn a spot in the Mythical Five. UST finished with a 1-13 win-loss card in its previous UAAP campaign, so bank on Cabañero to level up some more as he tries to lead UST back to relevance.
G - Evan Nelle, De La Salle Green Archers
With Jerom Lastimosa of the Adamson Soaring Falcons nursing a knee injury, Evan Nelle should be the favorite to take the crown as the UAAP’s best floor general. After missing out on the Final Four last season, the Topex Robinson-mentored Green Archers are poised to have a bounce-back year, and a huge reason for that will be Nelle’s excellent play from the one position.
In Season 85, there were two other individual awards that were given away.
The first one was the Bankable Player of the Season and it was given to Lastimosa. For Season 86, we see Kean Baclaan of the NU Bulldogs following in the King Falcon’s footsteps. Baclaan thrived in the big moments when he was a rookie. He should be better now that he’s got a year’s worth of UAAP seniors action under his belt.
The other award was the Swag Player of the Season and its recipient was Tamayo. This time, another Fighting Maroon in Harold Alarcon might just be able to swag his way to the top. Just check out his Instagram to see why.
Who are your picks for the UAAP accolades in Season 86?
(GM)