Collegiate standouts Clint Escamis, Kevin Quiambao, JD Cagulangan, Allen Liwag, and Mike Phillips will be honored as the Mythical Five in the 2025 SMC-Collegiate Press Corps Awards.
Five of the brightest stars in collegiate men’s basketball will be recognized as members of the Mythical Team in the 2025 San Miguel Corporation-Collegiate Press Corps (SMC-CPC) Awards Night, happening June 30 at Discovery Suites Manila in Ortigas, Pasig City.
Mapua’s Clint Escamis, DLSU’s Kevin Quiambao and Mike Phillips, UP’s JD Cagulangan, and CSB’s Allen Liwag (CSB) make up the elite ‘Fab Five’ that shone the brightest in UAAP Season 87 and NCAA Season 100.
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Escamis, who led Mapua to its first NCAA championship in 33 years, will also receive the Collegiate Men’s Basketball Player of the Year honor. The 24-year-old guard averaged 15.44 points, 4.0 assists, 3.61 rebounds, and 1.89 steals per game, leading the Cardinals to a league-best 15-3 record in the eliminations.
Quiambao, currently playing professionally in Korea for the Goyang Sono Skygunners, also delivered a standout farewell campaign with the Green Archers. The 6-foot-7 forward became the first La Salle player to win back-to-back MVPs since Ben Mbala, tallying 16.64 points, 8.64 rebounds, and 4.07 assists per game in the UAAP eliminations.
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Cagulangan capped off his collegiate career with a title and Finals MVP for UP. He turned in 13.67 points, 4.33 rebounds, and 4.67 assists per game in the Finals against La Salle. His performance played a pivotal role in the Fighting Maroons’ redemption run before moving to the KBL to join Suwon KT Sonicboom.
Liwag of College of St. Benilde earned both NCAA MVP and Defensive Player of the Year honors after powering the Blazers to another Finals appearance. He posted 14.61 points, 11.28 rebounds, and 1.22 blocks per game to top the statistical race.
Completing the mythical selection is La Salle’s Mike Phillips, who averaged 12.0 points and 11.57 rebounds along with 1.71 steals and 1.07 blocks per game. His elite two-way presence helped La Salle reach back-to-back Finals appearances.
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The third CPC Awards Night is presented by the Philippine Sports Commission, Pilipinas Live, and GMA, with support from World Balance, E-Sports International, Centaur Marketing, My Daily Collagen, Buffalo’s Wings N’ Things, and Go For Gold.