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AWARD. Kieffer Alas of De La Salle Zobel is the MVP of the UAAP Season 87 boys' basketball tournament.
UAAP
Rising star Kieffer Alas becomes just the second De La Salle Zobel player to win MVP in the UAAP boys' basketball tournament
MANILA, Philippines – Kieffer Alas still stamped his class as the best local player in the UAAP Season 87 boys’ basketball tournament even as De La Salle Zobel failed to reach the Final Four.
Alas earned MVP honors on Thursday, March 20, after averaging all-around numbers of 20.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.1 steals in 14 games.
He became the second Junior Archers player to win the award after Aljun Melecio (2016) as Alas finished with 91.429 statistical points (SPs).
“It hurts to not make it to the Final Four but at least there are positives to this season,” said Alas, the 17-year-old son of basketball coach Louie Alas and younger brother of PBA player Kevin Alas.
“I’ll just use this as fuel for my future.”
Nigerian big man Collins Akowe of the National University Nazareth School led all players with 105.786 SPs behind averages of 20.8 points, 19.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.8 blocks to capture the first-ever Best Foreign Student-Athlete plum.
Just last February, the UAAP introduced the Best Foreign Student-Athlete award, given to a foreigner who tops the statistical battle.
Alas and Akowe also bannered the Mythical Team that included FEU-Diliman’s Cabs Cabonilas (90.071 SPs), Adamson’s Mark Esperanza (76.385 SPs), and UP Integrated School’s Ethan Egea (66.643 SPs).
Cabonilas (17.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1.3 blocks), Esperanza (16.1 points, 5.8 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.6 steals), and Egea (13.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 4.2 assists) delivered across the board for their respective teams.
Meanwhile, Barby Dajao of UST claimed MVP honors in the girls’ division after putting up 15.2 points, 10.2 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 4.3 steals on the way to 105.5 SPs.
Dajao, who powered the Junior Tigresses to the finals after a 6-0 sweep of the elimination round, became just the second MVP in UAAP girls’ basketball history after Cris Padilla of Adamson won in 2020.
“I’m thankful for my awards. I’m thankful to my family, my teammates, and my coaches. I would not be here without their guidance. I’ll keep on working until I reach my dreams,” said the 19-year-old Dajao, who hails from Bacolod City.
Joining Dajao in the Mythical Team are DLSZ’s Erica De Luna (102.167 SPs), UST’s Rhiane Perez (98.25 SPs), NUNS’ Aubrey Lapasaran (91.167 SPs), and UST’s Katrina Insoy (68.667 SPs).
The first player in UAAP history to record a quadruple-double, De Luna averaged 20.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 5.2 steals followed by Perez (18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 4.5 steals), Lapasaran (17.7 points, 5.3 assists, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.3 steals), and Insoy (13.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.0 steals).
NUNS’ Zaydhen Rosano finished behind Dajao with 105.167 SPs but got disqualified from winning an award after a disqualifying foul against UST at the end of the elimination round.
Perez and UPIS’ Jhustin Hallare (11.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.0 steal) bagged the Rookie of the Year awards in the girls’ and boys’ divisions, respectively. – Rappler.com
