Reigning MVPs Kevin Quiambao and Kacey Dela Rosa are on pace to win back-to-back accolades after the first round of UAAP Season 87.
La Salle superstar Kevin Quiambao continues to be head and shoulders above the rest as he is once again the league leader in statistical points after the first round of UAAP Season 87.
Leading the defending champions to a 6-1 record in the first half of the season, Quiambao garnered 87.571 statistical points (SPs) to lead the MVP race halfway through the tournament.
In a list released by the UAAP on Monday, October 6, Quiambao is more than 10 SPs clear of UP’s JD Cagulangan, who is second with 77 SPs.
Of note, though, that Cagulangan has missed the last two games for the Fighting Maroons due to illness.
Quiambao also leads the league in scoring with an average of 16.43 points per game, while holding the single game record for points scored this season, having 22 points in their league opener against the NU Bulldogs last September 8.
His La Salle teammate Mike Phillips is third in the MVP race with 72.143 SPs.
Foreign student-athletes Precious Momowei of UE and Mo Konateh of FEU take the fourth and fifth places in the race with 68.286 and 63.571 SPs, respectively.
Meanwhile, on the women’s side, Ateneo’s Kacey Dela Rosa also has the edge over Kent Pastrana of UST in the race for MVP as she continues to lead the league with 90.143 statistical points.
Dela Rosa, whose Blue Eagles are currently at 4-3, finished with a double-double in all seven games and leads the team with 21.43 points and 14.71 rebounds per contest.
Pastrana lags behind by a couple of points at 84.714 SPs.
Rounding up the top five for the women’s are Ateneo’s Junize Calago (72.571 SPs), UP’s Louna Ozar (71.571 SPs), and another Blue Eagle in Sarah Makanjoula (67.429 SPs).
Curiously, no player from NU — who are undefeated in round 1 — finished in the top five. Angel Surada and Camille Clarin come in 6th and 7th place, respectively.
Both the men’s and women’s tournament resumes this weekend with round 2 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum beginning Saturday, October 12.