By Jean Malanum
MANILA – Collins Akowe of National University-Nazareth School (NUNS) is on track for back-to-back Most Valuable Player titles, garnering 108.143 statistical points (SPs) after the first round of the UAAP boys’ basketball tournament.
On Sunday, the 6-foot-10 Cameroonian finished with 14 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists, one steal and one block as the Bullpups conquered the Adamson University Baby Falcons, 73-60, to remain unbeaten after seven outings.
The 12th grader averages 21 points, 18 rebounds and 3 assists per game.
Far Eastern University-Diliman’s Cabs Cabonilas is in second place with 90.429 SPs. The 6-foot-4 winger averages 16 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals per game.
In third place is University of Santo Tomas forward Racine Kane of Senegal, who has 89.429 SPs. He averages 17 points, 11 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 2 steals and 1.8 blocks per game.
De La Salle Zobel’s Kieffer Alas, a member of last season’s Mythical Team, is fourth with 87.143 SPs, followed by Adamson’s Mark Esperanza (85.143 SPs), Ateneo’s Chris Urbina (68.0 SPs), FEU-Diliman’s Marc Burgos (65.143 SPs), UST’s Kirk Canete (61.571), Adamson’s Earl Medina (61.143), and University of the Philippinez Integrated School’s Ethan Egea (60.143).
Meanwhile, NUNS forward Zhaydhen Rosano paces the girls’ division.
The 16-year-old Cebuana earned 113 SPs, with averages of 18.3 points, 9 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 8 steals per game.
UST guard Barby Dajao is second with 105.667 SPs. The 19-year-old from Bacolod City averages 15.3 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 5.7 steals per game.
La Salle guard Erica De Luna ranks third with 100 SPs, UST’s Rhiane Perez (98.0 SPs) is in fourth place, NUNS Aubrey Lapasaran (92.333 SPs) is fifth, and UST’s Jannah Wenceslao (68.0 SPs) sixth. (PNA)
