MANILA, Philippines – At the end of the first round of the UAAP Men’s Basketball Tournament, Ateneo’s Kiefer Ravena is leading all players in statistical points (SP) with 70.85 SP.
He is closely followed by UST’s Kevin Ferrer with 68.28 SP while his Growling Tigers teammate, Ed Daquioag, on the heels on a 34-point performance in 83-76 win over UE, climbed up to third with 65.00 SP.
Ferrer, who is in his final year with UST, says that being in the running for the MVP award is nice but he prefers to win a championship. He has played in three title series, one in high school, and two in college but each time, his team came up short.
“Sobrang importante sa akin yung championship,” said Ferrer, who won an MVP award in his fourth year in high school. “Pang seventh year ko na pinaglalaban yung UST kaya gusto ko mag-iwan ng championship para sa sa iskwelahan. Gusto ko rin magkaroon ng championship. Mas importante sa akin yung championship kasi mas masaya lahat."
NU’s Alfred Aroga, whose game has picked up after the Bulldogs’ dismal 0-3 start, is fourth with 61.14 SP.
“I can’t think of MVP awards right now,” said Aroga. “Defending the championship is our goal. My goal."
La Salle’s Jeron Teng is fifth with 60.14 SP.
At sixth and seventh are a pair of FEU players in Mark Belo and Mike Tolomia, who tallied 57.85 SPs and 55.85 SP, respectively.
Karim Abdul is the third UST Tiger in the Top 10 coming in at eighth with 53.00sps. Raymar Jose is the third Tamaraw on the list crowding UST just like in the league standings with 52.00 SP, good for ninth.
Rounding out the ten best in the league so far is UE’s Edison Batiller who has 51.42 SP.