By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Bacolodnon Barby Dajao of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Junior Golden Tigresses was named Most Valuable Player in the UAAP Season 87 girls’ basketball tournament.
The 19-year-old Dajao claimed the girls’ division MVP after garnering 105.5 statistical points (SPs) from her averages of 15.17 points, 10.17 rebounds, 6.17 assists, and 4.33 steals per game after the double-round eliminations.
“Thankful ako sa mga award na ito, sa family ko, sa teammates ko, at coaches ko. Wala ako dito kung wala ang guidance nila. Itutuloy ko lang ito hanggang sa maabot ko pangarap ko,” Dajao said.
Joining Dajao in the Mythical Team are De La Salle Zobel (DLSZ) Junior Lady Archers’ Erica de Luna (102.167 SPs), UST’s Rhiane Perez (98.25 SPs), National University Nazareth School (NUNS) Lady Bullpups’ Aubrey Lapasaran (91.167 SPs), and UST’s Katrina Insoy (68.667 SPs).
Meanwhile, Kieffer Alas of the DLSZ Junior Green Archers became the second-ever student-athlete to win the boys’ basketball MVP, after now Terrafirma Dyip guard Aljun Melecio, who won the award in Season 78 in 2016.
The 17-year-old Alas finished second overall with 91.429 SPs with averages of 20.07 points, 11.14 rebounds, 4.93 assists, and 1.07 steals per game over 14 outings, steering DLSZ to a 6-8 record for sixth place.
“Masakit to not make it to the Final Four pero, at least, may positives to this season,” Alas said.
“I’ll just use this as fuel for my future,” he added.
NUNS’ Nigerian big man, Collins Akowe, led the boys’ division with 105.786 SPs, but is only eligible for the first-ever Best Foreign Student-Athlete award based on the new UAAP ruling.
Joining Akowe and Alas in the Mythical Team are Far Eastern University-Diliman Baby Tamaraws’ Cabs Cabonilas (90.071 SPs), Adamson University Baby Falcons’ Mark Esperanza (76.385 SPs), and University of the Philippines-Integrated School Junior Fighting Maroons’ Ethan Egea (66.643 SPs).
Junior Fighting Maroons’ Jhustin Hallare was named as the boys’ divisions’ Rookie of the Year honor with his averages of 11.57 points, 3.71 rebounds, 1.86 assists, and one steal./ASC, WDJ