MANILA, Philippines – Perpetual Help's Earl Scottie Thompson soothed his team's heartbreaking Final Four defeat to San Beda by running away with the Most Valuable Player award in the 90th NCAA basketball tournament.
Except in blocks, Thompson, 21, was a dominant force the whole season with an all-around game deserving of the most coveted individual plum.
So impressive was the Digos, Davao del Sur native, in fact, that he posted a pair of triple-double performance this season and finished in the top 10 of almost every statistical department possible to help lift the Altas to a third straight Final Four stint.
In all, Thompson averaged 17.07 points (fourth-best), 11.36 rebounds (fifth), 5.50 assists (tied for second), 1.64 steals (seventh) and almost a block a game to make up for a second worst 4.07 turnovers a game.
Thomspon thus became the first Perpetual Help player to bag the award since Jose Manalo won it 14 seasons ago.
The only other Perpetual Help player to win such award was Eric Clement Quiday in 1989.
Aside from being part of the Mythical Five alongside teammate Harold Arboleda, San Beda's Ola Adeogun, San Sebastian's Bradwyn Guinto and Arellano University's Jiovani Jalalon, Thompson also made it to the All-Defensive squad composed of Gabayni, Adeogun, Guinto and Jose Rizal's Abdul Razak Abdul Wahab.
Thompson though is looking forward to winning a bigger prize next season.
"Winning the championship is better than winning the MVP so I will do my best to win it next year," said Thompson in Filipino.
Other awardees were Arellano U's Dioncee Holts (Rookie of the Year), Jalalon (Most Improved). Gabayni (Defensive Player) and Jose Rizal (Sportsmanship).
Darius Estrella emerged the juniors MVP to become the first Jose Rizal cager to have won the honor since Keith Agovida and Louie Vigil won it in back-to-back seasons in 2008 and 2009.