Mangubat Leads MVP Race, Torculas Paces Rookie of the Year Race

Lawrence Mangubat and Aldous Torculas have emerged as the leading candidates for two of the biggest individual honors in NCAA Season 102, with the JRU standout at the forefront of the Most Valuable Player race and the San Beda rookie making a strong case for Rookie of the Year following the elimination round.

Mangubat has averaged 17.08 points, 5.75 rebounds, 3.58 assists, and 1.25 steals per game, leading the league in scoring and putting himself in a strong position to claim the MVP award. JRU finished second in Group A to secure a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.

His closest competition comes from Torculas, who has also put together an impressive campaign with averages of 14.92 points, 6.46 rebounds, 2.15 assists, and 1.46 blocks in 13 games. San Beda finished atop Group A after the elimination round.

However, Mangubat’s eligibility for the award depends on JRU reaching the Final Four. The Heavy Bombers must first get past Arellano in the quarterfinals to keep his MVP bid alive.

Meanwhile, Torculas has established himself as the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year in his first NCAA campaign. His closest challenger is former UP teammate Denzil Sison-Walker, who has averaged 12.0 points, 4.62 rebounds, and 1.92 assists per game. Walker’s Letran squad finished first in Group B.

Torculas and Walker previously played together at UP before becoming rivals in the NCAA, where they are now competing for the same individual honor.

Mangubat and Torculas now shift their focus to the postseason after strong elimination-round campaigns.