Here are your early leaders in the MVP ladder for the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Volleyball Tournaments.
The numbers have finally spoken.
After seven games in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Volleyball Tournaments, we now have a glimpse of the players in the running for the Most Valuable Player and positional awards.
As we wait for Round 2, let’s take a look at the top players who are on track to win an MVP, a positional award, or even both early into the new UAAP volleyball season.
A tight race in the women’s division
As of Round 1, NU’s Bella Belen is on pace to win back-to-back MVP awards with a league-leading 159.600 Statistical Points (SPs). This comes as no surprise given Belen’s continued two-way excellence, placing seventh in scoring with 107 points (15.28 per game), eighth in spiking efficiency (33.47 percent), first in aces (0.63 per set), sixth in digs (2.60 per set), and fifth in receiving. (33.58 percent efficiency).
However, Belen’s bid for a third and final UAAP MVP comes with a close pursuer in DLSU’s Shevana Laput, who finished Round 1 with a close 157.692 SPs as she continues embracing her leadership and go-to role for the young Lady Spikers.
Through seven games, Laput put up 122 markers (17.4 per game) as the Lady Spikers’ top scorer on a 37.21 percent success rate along with an average of 0.46 aces and 0.54 blocks per set.
Behind Belen and Laput’s tight-knit MVP battle are DLSU captain Angel Canino (141.538 SPs), and the Lady Bulldogs’ explosive outside hitter Vange Alinsug (130.000 SPs).
Kennedy Batas leads the way
On top of spearheading Ateneo’s Final Four push, Kennedy Batas’ growth early into UAAP Season 87 resulted in him leading the MVP race with 160.370 SPs as of Round 1. Now in his third year, Batas is the league leader in scoring with 142 points (20.28 per game), fourth in spiking efficiency (45.52 percent), fourth in aces (0.37 per set), and eighth in digging with 1.44 per set.
As a welcome addition, UST’s rookie outside hitter JJ Macam follows Batas with 148.750 SPs, having stepped up for the Golden Spikers amid two-time MVP Josh Ybañez’s Grade 2 ankle sprain. Through seven games, Macam has chipped in 85 points (12.1 per game) on an impressive 45.83 spiking efficiency and 0.42 aces per set for the Tigresses.
A tight race rounds up the top five race, with FEU’s Mikko Espartero (147.917 SPs), DLSU’s Noel Kampton (145.000 SPs), and UST middle blocker Paul Colinares (140.833 SPs) all being separated by minimal margins.
Overall, it’s an interesting race in the men’s division, with Batas on pace to become Ateneo’s first MVP since Marck Espejo in Season 80 (2018), and two of UST’s bright spots finding their way into the top five.
Of course, there’s the rise of Espartero from a Team B player into a rising star and the stability of Kampton for an otherwise shaky Green Spikers core.
Best position awards?
Outside Hitters: Along with leading the MVP race, Belen is also in the lead for Best Outside Hitter with 303 positional points followed by Canino (267 PPs), Adamson super rookie Shaina Nitura (252 PPs), NU teammate Alinsug (240 PPs), and Season 86 rookie of the year Angge Poyos (217 PPs)
Macam (281 PPs) leads the Best OH race in the men’s tournament, with Espartero (259 PPs) and Kampton following suit.
Opposite Spikers: Unsurprisingly Laput is first in the Best Opposite race with 274 PPs, followd by towering NU star Alyssa Solomon (214 PPs) and UST’s lefty co-captain Reg Jurado (185 PPs)
Batas (230 PPs) is the top Opposite Spiker in the men’s division, followed by FEU lefty Dryx Saavedra (175 PPs), UST veteran Jay Rack De La Noche (158 PPs), Adamson’s Jude Aguilar (142 PPs), and NU’s Leo Ordiales (132 PPs).
Setters: Based on the numbers, FEU skipper Tin Ubaldo is Season 87’s top playmaker after Round 1 with 192 PPs, with former Best Setters Lams Lamina (173 PPs) and Cassie Carballo (164 PPs) rounding up the top three.
UST’s Dux Yambao leads the men’s Best Setter category with 196 PPs, followed by Ateneo’s Enzo Gutierrez (175 PPs), La Salle’s Eco Adajar (162 PPs), and Adamson’s Lourenz Domingo (162 PPs).
Middle Blockers: DLSU rookie Lilay Del Castillo leads the Best Middle Blocker race after Round 1 with 181 PPs, followed by converted opposite AC Miner with 171 PPs, UE standout Riza Nogales (160 PPs), Lady Spikers’ senior Amie Provido (158) and Ateneo’s Yvana Sulit (139 PPs).
Colinares leads the men’s Best Middle Blocker race with 245 PPs, trailed by Ateneo’s Jettlee Gopio (194 PPs), Adamson’s Leo Caguimbal (185 PPs), FEU’s foreign student athlete Doula Ndongala (141 PPs), and Ateneo’s Brian Castro (137 PPs).
Liberos: Last but not least, NU’s Shaira Jardio leads the Best Libero standings with 205 PPs, while Adamson’s Juris Manuel (197 PPs) and UST’s two-time Best Libero Detdet Pepito (189 PPs) complete the top three.
La Salle senior and reigning Best Libero Lennard Guerrero is in a tight battle to keep his throne, topping the race with 210 PPs with FEU’s Vennie Ceballos trailing closely with 201 PPs.
Images courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.