Cruz leads MVP derby in UAAP

By Jonas Terrado - Manila Bulletin - September 8, 2008

Despite his team’s disappointing run, University of Santo Tomas’ Jervy Cruz has the inside track of winning his second straight Most Valuable Player (MVP) plum in the 71st UAAP basketball tournament.
Playing in his final year with the Growling Tigers, Cruz tallied 75.0714 points after the double-round elims to remain firmly ahead in the MVP race.

Ateneo’s Rabeh Al-Hussaini was second with 71.1429 points.

Although UST failed to enter the Final Four this season, the 6-4 Cruz tallied 961 points that went with a 90-point bonus and five-point penalty to secure the lead in the Statistical Points race sponsored by Smart Bro and powered by Imperium Technology.

Cruz led the league in scoring with an average of 19.8 points and was also No. 1 in the rebounding department with 13.7 boards. He highlighted his rebounding prowess by posting three 20-plus rebounds in 14 starts.

Al-Hussaini mustered 801 points and garnered a 195 bonus points to take second spot. The 6-6 standout normed 18.0 points on 48.5 percent shooting while hauling down 9.6 boards a contest as Ateneo finished the elims on top with a 13-1 record.

The former Philippine Christian University Baby Dolphin ranked second in scoring at 18.0 a game and made the highest points ever scored by a player this season by dropping 33 points in a loss to Far Eastern University last July 31, 72-66.

A far third in the MVP race is Al-Hussaini’s teammate Chris Tiu, who posted 62.1429 points while the De La Salle tandem of Rico Maierhofer and JV Casio came in fourth and fifth with 61.5000 and 60.8571 points, respectively.

National University’s Edwin Asoro, who like Cruz has also played his final year in the league, came in at sixth with 53.4286 points followed by Ateneo’s Nonoy Baclao with 50.7143 points.

Baclao, a former West Negros College (now University) finished tied for first in blocks with Aldrech Ramos at 2.6 a game.

UST’s Dylan Ababou (50.6429), FEU’s Mark Barroca (49.8571) wound up eighth and ninth while University of the East’s Marcy Arellano ended up 10th (47.7143).

On the other hand, Ateneo’s Ryan Buenafe, ranked 22nd overall, 36.5000, leads all rookies with La Salle’s Maui Villanueva way behind at 35th at 32.1429.

Meanwhile, Ateneo de Manila secured top spot in the juniors competition after defeating defending champion De La Salle Zobel, 69-64, yesterday at the Blue Eagles Gym.