Josh Ybañez of the UST Golden Spikers is on track for a third MVP award, while Angge Poyos of the Golden Tigresses leads the race for the women's division after round 1 of UAAP Season 88.
University of Santo Tomas stars Josh Ybañez and Angge Poyos are leading the statistical race for the Most Valuable Player award in the UAAP Season 88 men’s and women’s volleyball tournaments, respectively, after the first round.
Poyos, the Season 86 Rookie of the Year, has accumulated 156.22 statistical points (SP), holding a 9.322-point lead over her closest rival, Adamson University’s Shaina Nitura, last year’s top rookie.
The third-year Golden Tigress ranks third in scoring after seven games, tallying 111 points from 95 spikes, 12 blocks, and four service aces, helping UST secure four wins.
Poyos also leads the league in spiking efficiency with a 39.92 percent success rate.
Nitura follows with 147.200 SP, while De La Salle University’s Angel Canino is third with 142.800 SP.
Nitura, who made history in UAAP scoring last season, topped the first round with 136 points from 124 attacks, eight blocks, and four aces, and ranks fifth in spiking efficiency at 36.9 percent.
She also enters the top 10 in defense, ranking eighth in digs (2.20 per set) and eighth in receptions with 39.16 percent efficiency.
Canino, the Season 85 Rookie MVP, ranks fourth in scoring with 107 points from 92 attacks, 10 blocks, and five aces, and is sixth in spiking at 36.65 percent efficiency. She also ranks sixth in receptions with 39.82 percent efficiency.
Completing the women’s top five in the MVP race are Adamson’s Nigerian open spiker Frances Mordi at fourth with 139.200 SP and Far Eastern University’s Gerzel Petallo at fifth with 137.500 SP.
Rounding out the top 10 are La Salle captain Shevana Laput (131.600 SP), FEU middle blocker Jaz Ellarina (126.667 SP), NU rookie Sam Cantada (123.704 SP), UST opposite spiker Reg Jurado (120.000 SP), and Adamson setter Fhei Sagaysay (118.000 SP).
In the men’s division, two-time UAAP MVP Ybañez is on track to reclaim his crown with 158.000 SP, while the National University duo of Michaelo Buddin and Leo Ordiales are close behind.
The top three in the men’s MVP race all play for Alas Pilipinas.
Ybañez recorded 121 points in the first round with 110 spikes, seven aces, and four blocks, ranking third in the league.
The Season 85 Rookie MVP also ranks fifth in spiking (41.98 percent success) and service (0.28 aces per set), while his defense ranks second in the UAAP with 62.14 percent efficiency, helping the Golden Spikers achieve a 5-2 record.
Buddin and Ordiales follow closely with 153.750 SP and 152.083 SP, respectively.
Buddin tallied 106 points for fifth place, ranked sixth in spiking (41.23 percent efficiency), and led the league in service with 13 aces (0.54 per set).
Ordiales scored 109 points and finished in the top 10 in spiking, blocking, and service. His 44.33 percent attack success ranks third, his 0.71 block average per set ranks fifth, and he is seventh in service with 0.25 aces per set.
The unbeaten Far Eastern University duo of Dryx Saavedra (127.083 SP) and Mikko Espartero (124.583 SP) are fourth and fifth in the men’s race.
FEU middle blocker Lirick Mendoza is sixth with 124.167 SP.
University of the Philippines’ Olayemi Raheem and University of the East’s Raquim Aceron, the league’s top two scorers, are seventh and eighth with 120.741 SP and 120.385 SP, respectively.
Rounding out the top 10 are NU open hitter Jade Disquitado (120.000 SP) and FEU wing spiker Amet Bituin (110.167 SP).
The second round begins on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.