Parks, Ravena, Slaughter pace UAAP MVP tilt

MANILA, Philippines - National University’s celebrated recruit Bobby Ray Parks Jr. contends for the UAAP Season 74 Most Valuable Player plum with stalwarts of the Final Four teams led by Ateneo’s Greg Slaughter and Kiefer Ravena.

Parks posted solid averages of 20 points (league best), 6.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.1 steal, 1.1 block to put himself in a position to vie for the top individual plum despite the failure of the No. 5 Bulldogs (6-8) to land in the semis.

Fellow rookies Slaughter and Ravena, who have played big roles in the Eagles’ near-sweep of the elims, are also in the running for the coveted award.

Slaughter, a transferee from University of the Visayas, logged 13.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per outing, numbers well complemented by former high school star Ravena’s 13.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.1 apg and 1.5 spg effort.

Their teammate Nico Salva (12.8 ppg, 6 rpg) is also in contention along with Adamson’s Alex Nuyles (1.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 3.3 apg) and Eric Camson (11.3 ppg, 7.8 rpg); last year’s MVP RR Garcia (16.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.7 apg) and Aldrech Ramos (11.8 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.2 bpg) of No. 3 Far Eastern U; and Jeric Fortuna (13.6 ppg, 4 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.3 spg) of No. 4 University of Santo Tomas.

The Tigers’ Cameroonian rookie Karim Abdul also posted good marks (12.1 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 1.5 bpg) but would not be eligible for the award having served a one-game suspension for two unsportsmanlike fouls in the season.

The players’ statistical points (SPs), which are computed based on their stats records in the 14-game elims along with won-game bonuses, will determine this season’s MVP.