FEU's Garcia leads MVP race after 1st round

Manila, Philippines – Two summers ago, RR Garcia led Far Eastern University Tamaraws to the FilOil Flying V Invitationals’ title and won the MVP award.

Fast forward to this season, the Tamaraws are working on a probable title run in the UAAP since 2005 with Garcia again at the forefront.

He has led the Tamaraws to a sweep of the first round and has been chosen as the league’s Press Corps’ Player of the Week for the third time in one month.

He currently leads the league in scoring with 17.7 points per game and is the leader in the Most Valuable Player race.

Garcia got 64.7 statistical points after the first round to lead all UAAP players in the race for the most coveted individual plum.

The former RP Youth standout has been doing it all for the Tamaraws. Aside from leading the league in scoring, he’s also leading the Tamaraws in assists (2.6) and steals (1.3), minutes played (32.1) aside from norming 3.7 rebounds.

“He’s definitely the best collegiate player today. Kampante ako kapag nasa floor siya. Para siyang coach kapag nasa loob ng court,” said FEU coach Glenn Capacio of his prized ward.

Garcia, who toiled in FEU’s Team B, before cracking Capacio’s rotation last season remain humble.

“Basta ako ginagawa ko lang kung ano ang kailangan ng team sa akin,” Garcia said.

Trailing him closely in the race is University of the East Red Warriors’ top gun Paul Lee.

Lee, who is also the league’s second leading scorer with 17.3 points per game earned 60.3 SPs despite his team’s lowly 1-6 record.

Rounding up the top five are Garcia’s teammates Aldrech Ramos and Reil Cervantes and National University’s Cameroonian import Emmanuel Mbe.

Ramos is at third spot with 58.4 SPs with Mbe and Cervantes landing at fourth and fifth place with 55.9 and 55.0 SPs, respectively.

Completing the top 10 are University of Sto. Tomas’ center Chris Camus (53.3), Ateneo’s tandem of Eric Salamat (51.9) and Nico Salva (50.9), Adamson’s Eric Camson (49.3) and Kirk Long (49.1) also of Ateneo.