Collins Akowe of National University-Nazareth School (NUNS) is on course for a back-to-back Most Valuable Player (MVP) title, leading the UAAP boys’ basketball MVP race with 108.143 statistical points (SPs) after the first round of the tournament.
Standing 6-foot-10, the Cameroonian big man continues asserting dominance on both ends of the floor. In NU’s 73-60 victory over Adamson University, Akowe delivered an all-around performance, recording:
✅ 14 points
✅ 16 rebounds
✅ 7 assists
✅ 1 steal
✅ 1 block
With an impressive season average of 21 points, 18 rebounds, and three assists per game, Akowe remains the biggest force in the league as NU holds a perfect 7-0 record.
Chasing the MVP crown: The top contenders
Boys’ Division – Top 10 MVP Candidates
🥈 Cabs Cabonilas (FEU-Diliman) – 90.429 SPs
- 6-foot-4 winger averaging 16 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals per game
🥉 Racine Kane (UST, Senegal) – 89.429 SPs
- Contributing 17 points, 11 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 2 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game
🏅 Other top performers:
4️⃣ Kieffer Alas (DLSZ) – 87.143 SPs (Last season’s Mythical Team member)
5️⃣ Mark Esperanza (Adamson) – 85.143 SPs
6️⃣ Chris Urbina (Ateneo) – 68.0 SPs
7️⃣ Marc Burgos (FEU-Diliman) – 65.143 SPs
8️⃣ Kirk Cañete (UST) – 61.571 SPs
9️⃣ Earl Medina (Adamson) – 61.143 SPs
🔟 Ethan Egea (UPIS) – 60.143 SPs
Zhaydhen Rosano leads girls’ MVP race
NU-Nazareth’s Zhaydhen Rosano is the frontrunner in the girls’ division, topping the MVP leaderboard with 113 SPs.
The 16-year-old standout from Cebu is showcasing her versatility with season averages of:
✅ 18.3 points
✅ 9 rebounds
✅ 4.7 assists
✅ 8 steals per game
Top contenders in the girls’ division
🥈 Barby Dajao (UST) – 105.667 SPs
- 19-year-old Bacolod native averaging 15.3 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5.7 steals per game
🥉 Erica De Luna (DLSZ) – 100 SPs
🏅 Other top performers:
4️⃣ Rhiane Perez (UST) – 98.0 SPs
5️⃣ Aubrey Lapasaran (NUNS) – 92.333 SPs
6️⃣ Jannah Wenceslao (UST) – 68.0 SPs
Final thoughts
With Akowe and Rosano dominating their respective divisions, NU-Nazareth continues to showcase its powerhouse basketball program. However, FEU-Diliman’s Cabonilas and UST’s Kane are proving to be strong challengers in the boys’ division, while UST’s Dajao remains in close pursuit of the MVP title in the girls’ league.
As the UAAP basketball season progresses, fans can expect fierce competition as these young stars battle for individual glory and team success.