Jake Pascual, 2 Red Cubs Enters Mythical Five

Another San Sebastian player is expected to win the coveted Most Valuable Player award in the 88th NCAA seniors basketball tournament.

With last year’s winner MVP Calvin Abueva disqualified from winning the coveted plum for punching another player and getting banned one game in the process, teammate Ian Sangalang has emerged as the frontrunner for the top individual award after topping the statistical points at the end of the double-round eliminations.

The 20-year-old Sangalang posted an average of 56.3 statistical points (SP) behind Abueva's 69.2 SP after averaging 19.9 points, 12.5 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 1.1 steals in 17 games.

Abueva was barred from winning any individual awards despite becoming the first collegiate player to top the points, rebounds and assists departments after getting thrown out for punching Vence Laude in San Sebastian's 83-75 win over Lyceum last Aug. 23.

Under NCAA rules, a player thrown out from a game is ineligible to win the MVP.

Letran's Kevin Alas posted the second best with 47.4 SP, followed by Emilio Aguinaldo College's Noube Happi (44.7), San Beda's Jake Pascual (43.2) and University of Perpetual Help's Earl Thompson (41.9).

Alas, Happi, Pascual and Thompson are also expected to join Sangalang in the Mythical Five selection according to a picture of the list posted on the Twitter account of Season 88 chairman Fr. Vic Calvo.

Happi, a 6-foot-7 Cameroonian center, also leads the Rookie of the Year race with his average of 16.1 points, 12.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 18 games.

Sophomore swingman Thompson is also likely to bag the Most Improved Player award after his numbers sent him to sixth this season from No. 56th last year.  Teammate Jet Vidal came in second after jumping from No. 42nd last season to No. 16 this year.

Though he played only for 11 games, Letran's Raymond Almazan is also expected to keep his Best Defensive Player award after averaging 1.9 blocks.

In juniors, Letran's John Quinto leads the MVP race with 61.2 SP.  Expected to join him in the Mythical First Five are  Mapua's John Diego (53.7), San Beda's Arvin Tolentino (53.5), Letran's Rey Nambatac (52.5) and San Beda's Javee Mocon (49.8.

Quinto is expected to win the Rookie of the Year award hands down.

source: MB Sports