Separated by just 0.143 statistical points (SPs), DLSU team captain Mike Phillips and UST rookie Collins Akowe are locked in a battle for top individual honors of UAAP Season 88.
(Editor's note: This story has been revised to reflect the UAAP's new MVP rule introduced in Season 87)
The UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament is just at the midway point, but the MVP race is already heating up with La Salle’s Mike Phillips and UST’s Collins Akowe figuring in a neck-and-neck battle.
Phillips currently holds the edge, posting 84.429 statistical points (SPs) after averaging 13.3 points, a league-best 15.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists across seven games of the first round.
Thanks to “Motor Mike” and his all-around play, the Green Archers closed out round 1 with back-to-back wins, finishing 4-3 and sharing third place with rival Ateneo and defending champion UP.
[ALSO READ: Undermanned La Salle wins 'character game' vs UP to force triple-tie in UAAP standings]
Hot on his heels is UST star rookie Akowe, who has racked up 84.286 SPs by producing 16.3 points, 15.3 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks in a standout performance for the España-based squad.
However, should Akowe overtake Phillips down the line and keep the lead, he will be awarded as Best Foreign Student-Athlete.
The Growling Tigers currently sit second in the standings at 5-2, trailing only the NU Bulldogs (6-1).
FEU sophomore Janrey Pasaol has been a surprise contender, landing in third place with 80.429 SPs.
The Tamaraws standout posted 18.3 points, a league-best 6.6 assists, and 4.0 rebounds, even as FEU struggled to a 2-5 record.
UE’s Precious Momowei occupies fourth with 80.0 SPs, averaging 18.1 points, 14.4 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks, though his Red Warriors remain the only winless team at 0-7.
Momowei's 42-point explosion in an overtime loss to the Green Archers marks the best single-game performance of the season so far.
Rounding out the top five is Jake Figueroa of NU with 77.429 SPs, posting 15.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.1 assists to help the Bulldogs match their best start since Season 86.
Also included in the top 10 are UST captain Nic Cabanero (76.571 SPs), FEU big man Mo Konateh (74.429 SPs), Ateneo duo Kymani Ladi (67.571 SPs) and Dom Escobar (64.0 SPs), and Growling Tigers playmaker Forthsky Padrigao (63.667 SPs).
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.