Intal closes in on Bono in MVP derby

With Ateneo dominating this year’s UAAP men’s basketball tournament, expect the Blue Eagles to crowd the rest in the chase for the coveted MVP plum.

In fact, Ateneo’s wingman JC Intal has closed in on Adamson’s Ken Bono in the overall statistical points list in the Season 69’s MVP derby after the first round of eliminations in the country’s most glamorous collegiate league.

As of the latest tally, Intal, who dished out a double-double performance of 24 points and 10 rebounds in the Eagles’ 114-78 rout of the UST Tigers last Sunday, is in second with 69.83 statistical points, just a point shy of the Bono’s 70.83 SPs.

What makes Intal a serious threat for Bono for the MVP title is his ability to play not only the role of a take-charge guy for the Eagles but the other positions as well.

"He may not score that much sometimes but he has delivered in some other ways for us," said Ateneo coach Norman Black of his prized cager, who also had five assists, two steals and one shotblock against the Tigers.

That emphatic victory over the España-based cagers capped Ateneo’s first round sweep, which further underscored the Eagles’ readiness to claim this year’s UAAP crown.

Actually, the other Ateneo starters are in the hunt for the MVP crown with Doug Kramer in 12th, Rabeth Ali-Hussaini in 16th and Chris Tiu in 19th in the top 20 overall SP list.

Rounding up the top 10 are National U’s Edwin Asoro, University of the East’s Bon Bon Custodio, Santo Tomas’ Jervy Cruz and Jojo Duncil, State U’s Marvin Cruz, UE’s Mark Borboran and Far Eastern U’s Jonas Villanueva.

Ateneo shows the way with a 6-0 mark after the first round among seven teams, two games ahead of UE (4-2) and three off Adamson (3-3). UP, UST, NU and defending champion FEU all have 2-4 slates. — Joey Villar