Galang, Valdez lead UAAP MVP race

Games Saturday:

(Filoil Flying V Arena)

8 a.m. – ADMU vs UE (men)

10 a.m. – UP vs NU (men)

2 p.m. – UP vs ADMU (women)

4 p.m. – UE vs DLSU (women)

MANILA, Philippines – De La Salle’s Ara Galang, determined to regain the MVP honors she won last year, tops all comers in scoring in the UAAP Season 77 women’s volleyball tournament.

Based on the figures released by the league’s official statistician TMX Sports, Galang, who towed the Lady Spikers to a league-best 5-0 card heading to the annual Christmas break, is pulling away in the Best Scorer race with 105 points on 82 spikes, 13 blocks and 10 service aces.

In La Salle’s 25-23, 24-26, 25-14, 25-17 win over Adamson University last Nov. 23, Galang fired a season-best 27 hits, a point shy of matching her career-high of 28 points she set in Game 3 of the Season 76 Finals last March.

Reigning MVP Alyssa Valdez of Ateneo, remains a heavy favorite for the league's highest individual award.

Valdez, seeking to help the Lady Eagles win a second consecutive title, is No. 1 in spiking with a 45.33 percent success rating and is also the best in the serving department with a 0.83 average per set.

The San Juan, Batangas native, however, is only in second place in scoring behind Galang with 81 points on 68 attacks, 10 service aces and three blocks.

Rounding up the Top 5 scorers in the league are Far Eastern University’s Bernadette Pons (76 points), National University’s Jaja Santiago (75) and University of the Philippines’ Nicole Tiamzon (72).

The 6-foot-4 Santiago is running second behind Valdez in the spiking department with 41.29 percent.

Mika Reyes of the Lady Spikers and Mylene Paat of the Lady Falcons, meanwhile, are tied in blocks with a 1.00 average per set.

Adamson libero Marleen Cortel is the leader in digs with 3.29, followed by FEU defensive specialist Tin Agno with 2.79.

Ateneo’s Jia Morado is No. 1 in the setting department with a 10.67 average per set, while last year’s Best Setter Kim Fajardo of La Salle is in second spot with 8.24 average per set.

The Lady Eagles are 1-2 in receiving department behind Ella de Jesus (43.48 percent efficiency rating) and libero Denden Lazaro (40 percent).

Action resumes on Jan. 4 at The Arena in San Juan, with the Lady Eagles taking on the dangerous Lady Maroons at 2 p.m., and the Lady Spikers battling winless University of the East at 4 p.m.