Two-woman race: Ateneo’s Dela Rosa, UST’s Pastrana lead tight UAAP MVP battle

MANILA, Philippines – Ateneo star forward Kacey dela Rosa, the reigning UAAP women’s basketball MVP, remains on track for a back-to-back bid for the top individual award after once again leading the Blue Eagles to fourth place with a 4-3 record at the end of the eliminations’ first round.

In a sustained display of excellence, the 6-foot-4 dynamo clinched double-double numbers in all her seven appearances so far in Season 87, clocking in stellar averages of 21.4 points, 14.7 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, 1.2 assists, and 1.0 steal to top the statistical points (SPs) ladder with 90.143.

Nipping right at her heels, however, is defending champion UST’s Kent Pastrana with 84.714 SPs stemming from equally impressive norms of 17.3 points, 9.1 boards, 2.7 dimes, 2.3 swipes, and 1.4 swats per contest for the second-ranked Growling Tigresses.

Both chart-topping standouts are, of course, on pace for another crack at the Mythical Five, with Dela Rosa gunning for her third straight selection and Pastrana going for back-to-back citations.

Surrounding Pastrana at the top of the leaderboards are two other star Eagles, namely fellow reigning Mythical Team member Junize Calago (72.571 SPs) at third and center Sarah Makanjuola (67.429) at fifth, while their Katipunan neighbor UP’s Louna Ozar, also of Gilas Pilipinas, stands at fourth (71.571).

As has been the case in the last two tournaments, no member of the uber-stacked NU Lady Bulldogs dynasty so far is part of the top five, although defensive menace Angel Surada and veteran playmaker Camille Clarin are knocking on the door at sixth (65.714) and seventh (64.429), respectively.

NU legend and current international sensation Jack Animam was the last to achieve a Mythical Five honor in UAAP Season 82 back in 2019.

Rachel Lacayanga is UE’s top player in the Season 87 leaderboards so far at 10th place (60.667), while standout duo Elaine Etang and Kem Adeshina represent Adamson at 11th (59.286) and 12th (59.143), respectively.

Shane Salvani carries the banner for FEU at 13th (56.833), while Tricia Mendoza paces La Salle at 14th (55.286).

Runaway candidate Zane Kallos stands alone atop junior high leaderboards

Meanwhile, over at the junior high school division, Ateneo’s Zane Kallos is head and shoulders above the competition with a staggering 99.429 SPs total, a full 11 points ahead of second-ranked Andwele Cabanero of UST (88.714).

Despite the Blue Eagles only holding a 3-4 record in the debuting tournament, Kallos has carried his share of the workload and then some with blistering team-high averages of 17.4 points, 14.7 rebounds, and 6.0 assists, to go with a healthy helping of steals at 1.9 per game.

Bruce Tubongbanua slots in at third in the MVP race (86.0 SPs), despite being bogged down by a blank win bonus due to UPIS’ 0-7 record. UST’s Jhon Canapi (85.286) and La Salle’s Melvin Tailan (81.571), meanwhile, complete the top five.

And just like NU in the women’s division, UE’s depth speaks volumes in relation to its undefeated 7-0 start, as its best player Gab delos Reyes is all the way down the list at 11th with 66.714 SPs. – Rappler.com