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SUPERSTARS. NU spiker Bella Belen (left) and La Salle spiker Shevana Laput react in the UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball tournament.
UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Clashing styles exude the same dominant flair in UAAP women's volleyball as reigning two-time MVP Bella Belen of NU and La Salle powerhouse hitter Shevana Laput stand neck-and-neck in the Season 87 MVP race
MANILA, Philippines – For the third time in four years, NU women’s volleyball superstar Bella Belen leads the pack with the most statistical points (SPs) needed for MVP after the UAAP Season 87 eliminations’ first round, league statistician Pong Ducanes posted on Wednesday, March 19.
The Alas Pilipinas prospect, reigning UAAP MVP and still the all-around driving force for the undefeated defending champions, tallied 159.6 SPs – the sole basis for MVP awards in the UAAP.
The crafty outside hitter, however, does not stand completely alone atop her lofty hill, as La Salle Lady Spikers opposite hitter Shevana Laput is a mere two points away from overtaking Belen at 157.69 SPs.
Had the Ramil de Jesus-coached squad not sunk to a 19-year-worst with two losses in its first three games, Laput would have likely been the MVP leader halfway through eliminations due to won-game bonuses in the SPs calculation. After seven games, La Salle is at 5-2 while Belen’s NU stays spotless at 7-0.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Adamson super rookie Shaina Nitura catapulted to third with 145.556 SPs, mostly thanks to her league-leading 170 points for an incredible 24.3 points per game average.
UST star sophomore Angge Poyos, currently seventh in the MVP race, is a far second in the scoring leaderboards to Nitura at 136 points, or 19.4 per game. No one also stands remotely close to Nitura for Rookie of the Year as La Salle setter Mikole Reyes sits at No. 23 on the MVP ladder.
Former rookie-MVP Angel Canino stands closely behind her teammate Laput at fourth in the MVP race with 141.538 SPs, and is on pace for a Best Outside Hitter citation alongside frontrunner Belen and just above Nitura.
NU stars Vange Alinsug and reigning Finals MVP Alyssa Solomon come in at fifth and sixth in the MVP ladder, respectively, with SP totals of 130 and 126, while Poyos (120.345) and fellow UST star Reg Jurado (113.103) are seventh and eighth in the race, respectively.
Rounding out the top 10 are two more star Lady Bulldogs: underrated libero Shaira Jardio (106.4) and veteran playmaker Lams Lamina (101.6).
Over at men’s division, meanwhile, Ateneo super scorer Ken Batas leads the MVP race by a considerable margin at 160.37 SPs, at least 12 SPs above second-running UST revelation Jan Julian Macam (148.75) and FEU young star hitter Mikko Espartero (147.917). – Rappler.com
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