3 battle for UAAP MVP award

Far Eastern University's RR Garcia, teammate Aldrech Ramos, and National University's Cameroonian import Emmanuel Mbe are locked in a tight battle for the coveted Most Valuable Player award in the 73rd UAAP basketball tournament.

Garcia, who topped the MVP race after the first round, has been a wonder this season in helping power the Morayta-based squad to gain a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four set next week.

In 13 games played, the Zamboanga City native is leading the league in scoring with 17.5 points per game while also registering 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 32 minutes of action.

But with opponents making him the marked man each game, it allowed Ramos and Mbe to somehow catch up in the race.

Ramos, a member of the Smart Gilas-RP team, is norming 11.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and topped the collegiate cagefest in blocks with an average of 2.2 per contest.

He nearly won the MVP plum last season but lost to fellow national cager Dylan Ababou of the University of Santo Tomas.

A win by either player would earn them the distinction as the first FEU cager to bag the award since current PBA superstar Arwind Santos of San Miguel won back-to-back in 2004 and 2005, the last time the school won the title.

For now, neither player is thinking of achieving such honor as the Tamaraws are hoping to claim the No. 1 spot against Ateneo on Saturday.

FEU can earn that elusive position if it beats the three-peat seeking Blue Eagles or prevents the latter from winning by at least three points. The former won, 72-69, in their first round meeting.

Mbe, who posted a number of double-double games, has registered 13.0 points and 11.9 rebounds despite his Bulldogs toting a 6-7 slate, a record that has prevented them from entering the semifinals the last nine seasons.

The 6-foot-7 big man is looking to become the first foreigner to win the MVP plum since Anthony Williams, an American who studied medicine at FEU and became the league MVP in 1981.

For the second consecutive season, the league will rely solely on statistics to determine the winner. Previous practice includes votes from league officials, coaches, players and media.

Jonas Terrado, Manila Bulletin