By Adrian Stewart Co

University of Santo Tomas (UST) players, center Soulemane Chabi Yo and Negrense point guard Mark Nonoy, are both favored to pick up awards for the 82nd UAAP men’s basketball season. The Benin native is being eyed for Most Valuable Player while the player from La Carlota City is under consideration for Rookie of the Year.
Chabi Yo, who transferred in from Colegio de San Lorenzo, put up impressive numbers despite being physically the smallest among foreign players, averaging 16.9 points, 14.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. Nonoy, meanwhile, delivered 10.0 points, 3.8 boards, and 2.3 dimes after 14 matches.
If speculation rings true, it would be the third time UST players took the top UAAP individual awards.
“It would be big for the program,” UST head coach Aldin Ayo said in an interview with Spin.ph. “Having players winning those awards show that we’re able to develop and get the best out of the players that we have.”
UST opens the post-season today against Far Eastern University at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The winner will advance to meet the University of the Philippines on November 10 at the same venue./ASC, WDJ