Kevin Quiambao is back-to-back UAAP MVP as La Salle tries to force Game 3 against the UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP Season 87 Finals.
La Salle’s Kevin Quiambao nabbed his second straight MVP award during the individual awarding ceremony of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament, ahead of Game 2 off the Finals between his Green Archers and the UP Fighting Maroons on Wednesday.
Being at the forefront La Salle’s push to retain the UAAP title, Quiambao was the top scorer of the league with a total of 233 points. He finished with 81.357 statistical points (SPs), pulling him ahead of DLSU teammate Mike Phillips.
Phillips, the league’s second-best rebounder, was the MVP runner-up with 74.929 SPs.
UP’s JD Cagulangan found himself in the thick of the Mythical Five despite playing only 12 games with 69.167 SPs. He is second in the league in assists with 60 total, with only UST point guard Forth Padrigao ahead with 85 dimes.
FEU’s Mohamed Konateh is the only player whose team finished out of the Final Four in the Mythical Five with 68.643 SPs. He nabbed the most boards with 234 rebounds in 14 games.
Meanwhile, UST’s NIc Cabañero took the last Mythical Five slot with 61 SPs, after taking the place of UE’s Precious Momowei who was ineligible due to suspension.
Veejay Pre of the FEU Tamaraws edged Ateneo’s Jared Bahay for the Rookie of the Year plum with 50.857 SPs. He was 13th in the SPs race.
Bahay, 14th on the list, finished with 47 SPs.
Three Mythical Five members will gut it out in Game 2 of the Finals as Quiambao, Phillips, and La Salle battle against Cagulangan’s UP with the Green Archers looking to force a Game 3 decider scheduled on Sunday, December 15, if necessary.