Figueroa Leads MVP Race, Akowe Dominates Rookie Rankings

The UAAP men’s basketball MVP race is starting to take shape after ten games per team, and several names have separated themselves from the pack.

Based on data compiled by local statistician Johann Medina, UST’s Collins Akowe leads all players in Statistical Points (SP) with 82.8, followed by NU’s Jake Figueroa at 82.3 and DLSU’s Mike Phillips at 81.3.

Akowe has been a dominant force for the Growling Tigers, averaging 17.9 points, 15.1 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game. His numbers not only make him the current leader in SP but also put him on track for two major individual honors: the Best Foreign Student-Athlete award and the Rookie of the Year title. His presence inside has been a bright spot for UST’s campaign, as he continues to anchor both ends of the floor.

Close behind him is NU’s do-it-all forward Jake Figueroa, who’s turning in one of the most complete seasons in recent memory. Figueroa is averaging 14.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 2.4 steals, and 1.2 blocks a game: numbers that make him the current frontrunner in the league MVP race.

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His versatility has powered the Bulldogs to the upper tier of the standings and given NU a balanced attack every night.

Rounding out the top five in SP are La Salle’s Mike Phillips (81.3), FEU’s Janrey Pasaol (80.7), and UE’s Precious Momowei (79.7). Phillips continues to be a model of consistency for the Green Archers, while Pasaol has emerged as one of the season’s biggest surprises with his scoring bursts and relentless energy. Momowei, another foreign student-athlete, has been a steady double-double presence for the Red Warriors.

Also in the top ten are FEU’s Mo Konateh (77.4), UST’s Nic Cabañero (66.8), UE’s John Abate (63.8), Ateneo’s Dominic Escobar (63.5), and UP’s Harold Alarcon (62.8).

If the season ended today, the projected Mythical 5 would feature Akowe, Figueroa, Phillips, Pasaol, and Cabañero. UAAP rules allow only one foreign student-athlete in the Mythical 5, which means either Akowe, Momowei, or Konateh could occupy that lone slot once the final computations are determined.

With just a few games left in the eliminations, the award races are tightening up.