3 prized rookies pace MVP race

MANILA, Philippines - Three of the most celebrated recruits this season – Ateneo’s Greg Slaughter and Kiefer Ravena and National University’s Bobby Ray Parks Jr. – showed the way in the MVP race after the first round of the UAAP Season 74 seniors basketball action.

The 6-11 Slaughter, a transferee from University of Visayas, led all players with 65.1429 total statistical points (SPs) built around averages of 14 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks, followed by teammate Ravena (62.000 SPs) and Parks Jr. (57.4286 SPs).

Juniors standout Ravena bounced back big from a scoreless first game, logging 14.6 points, 3.1 assists, a 1.7 steals (No. 2 in UAAP) per outing. The 5-11 “Phenom” is also the league’s best shooter in the two-point area 34-of-58 for 58.6 percent.

For his part, Parks emerged as the UAAP’s top gunner, averaging 17.1 markers per outing spiked by 25.8 percent three-point shooting and complementing his game with 6.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals a match.

Occupying fourth and fifth were University of Santo Tomas’ Jeric Fortuna (55.000 SPs) and Far Eastern U’s Aldrech Ramos (54.2857 SPs). Fortuna was second-best scorer with 16.1 markers highlighted by a 13-of-36 (36.1 percent) marksmanship from beyond the arc, and was good for 3.4 assists and 1.3 steals. Ramos topped the rebounding aspect with 9.9 total per game and 3.9 offensive boards.