Centers stand tall as MVPs in Season 70

Centers dominated this year’s UAAP with Jervy Cruz of UST leading the MVP winners in Season 70 of the country’s varsity league.

Cruz, a vital cog in the Tigers’ improbable title conquest last year, took the top honors in the men’s category with a solid performance in the elims up to the Final Four, while Ateneo’s Cassy Tioseco and UPIS’ Tata Marata copped the coveted crowns in the women’s and juniors divisions.

Cruz also lead the Mythical selection that includes La Salle’s Rico Maeirhofer and JV Casio, University of the East’s Mark Borboran and Ateneo’s Chris Tiu during yesterday’s awards rites.

Tioseco, member of the national squad seeing action in the 24th Southeast Asian Games this December in Thailand, led the elite first group in the distaff side, including UP’s Sai Sadorra, La Salle’s Bernardin Yamamoto, UST’s Marichu Bacaro and UE’s Cindy Resultay.

While Cruz and Tioseco were shoo-ins for the awards, Marata’s feat was not.

Marata, a nephew of former pros Ric Ric and Bong Marata, pulled the rug from under the rest of the pack to snatch the highest individual plum despite not being named to the Mythical squad.

It was composed of La Salle’s David Webb, Ateneo’s Juami Tiongson and Jayvee Dumrique and National U’s Kevin Batac and Jovet Mendoza. – Joey Villar