Far Eastern University forward Cabs Cabonilas (center) goes for a layup during the game against University of the East on March 1, 2026 in the UAAP Season 88 boys basketball tournament at the Ateneo Blue Eagle gym in Quezon City. Cabonilas tallied 83.286 statistical points after the elimination round. (UAAP photo)
Far Eastern University-Diliman standout Cabs Cabonilas is poised to claim the Most Valuable Player award in the UAAP Season 88 boys’ basketball tournament after finishing atop the Statistical Points (SP) race at the end of the elimination round.
The 6-foot-4 forward from Digos City accumulated 83.286 SPs across 14 games, powering the Baby Tamaraws to an impressive 11–3 record and cementing his place as the season’s most dominant all-around performer.
Cabonilas, 19, delivered a consistently strong campaign, averaging 15.79 points, 8.86 rebounds, 3.79 assists, 1.79 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game. His versatile play on both ends of the floor has been a key factor behind FEU-D’s deep run this season.
Despite already clinching the top individual honor statistically, Cabonilas and the Baby Tamaraws still have unfinished business as they face Ateneo de Manila University in a playoff for the No. 2 seed on Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the Blue Eagle Gym.
Cabonilas finished runner-up in last season’s MVP race after Ateneo’s Kiefer Alas captured the award with 91.429 SPs, narrowly edging Cabonilas, who posted 90.071 SPs in UAAP Season 87.
Meanwhile, Ateneo’s Nigerian standout Jude Eriobu is set to receive the Best Foreign Student-Athlete award after leading all players with 99.857 SPs. The dominant big man averaged 21.64 points, 17.07 rebounds, 3.29 blocks, and 1.0 steals over 14 games, emerging as one of the most imposing presences in the tournament.
Joining Cabonilas and Eriobu in the season’s Elite Team are De La Salle-Zobel’s Maco Dabao (71.286 SPs), University of Santo Tomas’ Kirk Canete (69.5), and Ateneo’s Jay M. Leal (66.214).
National University Nazareth School point guard Mot Matias and Malian center Moussa Diakite also ranked among the statistical leaders with 70.923 and 70.385 SPs, respectively. However, Matias was rendered ineligible for individual honors after being suspended during NUNS’ February 25 game against University of the East due to two unsportsmanlike fouls.
Diakite, meanwhile, was also ruled out of Elite Team contention as UAAP rules allow only one foreign student-athlete to be included in the selection.
In the girls’ division, University of Santo Tomas’ Rhiane Perez emerged as the MVP after tallying 103.5 SPs to edge National University Nazareth School’s Zayden Rosano, who finished with 101.167 SPs.
The 17-year-old Perez delivered a remarkable all-around performance throughout the eliminations, averaging 14.17 points, 10.83 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 3.5 steals, and 2.17 blocks per game.
UST and NUNS both wrapped up the elimination round with identical 5–1 records and will now square off in a best-of-three Finals series to determine the girls’ champion.
Completing the girls’ Elite Team are NUNS’ Aubrey Lapasaran (82.667 SPs), along with UST teammates Koukoou Talla of Indonesia (76.0) and Lea Piñuela (74.333).
The UAAP Season 88 high school basketball awarding ceremony is scheduled for March 22 at 12 p.m. at the Blue Eagle Gym.