Daniel, Abueva in close race for MVP award

MANILA, Philippines – While San Beda holds a big advantage over San Sebastian in the NCAA men’s cage finals, the battle for this year’s MVP crown is a toss-up between the finalists’ leading players.

San Beda’s Sudan Daniel and San Sebastian’s Calvin Abueva are locked in a close fight for the highest individual plum in the league with the winner to be named in the opener of the best-of-five finals at the Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday.

The 6-7 Daniel leads the league in shot blocks with an average of 4.4 and was second in rebounds with 11.4 while averaging 10.9 points.

The 6-3 Abueva, on the other hand, was tops in rebounds with 12.6 while placing third in scoring with 16.3 points. He also normed 1.6 assists, a steal and a shot block in an all-around effort.

Abueva helped power the Stags to second place after the double-round eliminations and into the championship round for the second straight season following a recent 61-52 victory over the Jose Rizal Bombers in the stepladder semifinals.

In contrast, Daniel drew a lot of help from the other Lions, who went on to essay a 16-game elimination round sweep for an outright berth in the best-of-five championship.

As incentive for their historic feat, San Beda sets out with a 1-0 edge in the title playoff.

Backing up Daniel are Borgie Hermida, Garvo Lanete, Jake Pascual, Dave Marcelo and Rome dela Rosa, who all wound up in the Top 10 in the MVP derby.

Hermida led the league in assists with an average of 5.7 while piling norms of 11.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals a game.

The player with the highest statistical output, which will be calculated based on statistics and won game points, after the elims – provided he makes it past the playoff phase – will automatically win the award last won by former Jose Rizal hotshot John Wilson.

In juniors’ action, San Beda’s Baser Amer and San Sebastian’s Gino Jumao-as dispute the coveted MVP plum as the Red Cubs and the Staglets start their own best-of-three title series.

Baser, playing his last season, emerged with averages of 15.6 points, 8.3 boards, a league high 11.7 assists and 2.4 steals while Jumao-as proved equally impressive with norms of 23.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.2 shot blocks.

Joey Villar, Philippine Star