hoya88 KQ, Kacey dominate peers for a second straight season

La Salle’s Kevin Quiambao during a game against Ateneo in UAAP Season 87. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Kevin Quiambao is the UAAP men’s basketball tournament MVP for the second straight time.

Kacey Dela Rosa achieved the same feat, too, although in a much more dominant fashion.

Article continues after this advertisement

Quiambao ran away with the men’s crown, accumulating 81.357 statistical points (SPs) to beat La Salle teammat Mike Phillips for the award. The high-motor Phillips finished second in the MVP race with 74.928 SPs.

FEATURED STORIES SPORTS PBA: Familiarity working in Cameron Clark’s favor SPORTS PBA: Meralco rallies from 23 down to beat Phoenix SPORTS PBA: Cameron Clark leads guest team Hong Kong Eastern to 2-0 start

“KQ (Quiambao) … really put in the work [as an athlete],” said La Salle coach Topex Robinson. “It’s not an overnight thing where he just became the person that he is or the player that he is. And it’s just a testament of how he set the barometer for this team.”

“How he inspired his teammates, how he made sure that he’s going to challenge the guys, especially our other veterans. Mike [Phillips] was really stepping up big time. Josh David was also there. So again, we give credit where credit is due. And then KQ really brought this team to a different level … I’m just fortunate to be a part of KQ’s journey. And I’m really excited for what the future holds for KQ. And he deserves it,” Robinson added.

Article continues after this advertisement

Quiambao averaged 16.64 points, 8.64 rebounds, 4.07 assists and a steal per game in the elimination round, becoming the first Green Archer to win back-to-back MVPs since Ben Mbala in the 2016 and 2017 seasons. He is also the first local to win the award twice in a row since Kiefer Ravena in 2014 and 2015.

Article continues after this advertisement

Dela Rosa, however, was the more dominant winner.

Article continues after this advertisement

The Ateneo low blocks operator collected 96.286 SPs after averaging 22.07 points, 16.0 rebounds and 2.29 blocks per game to top all three departments in the elimination round. She also had 14 straight double-doubles in leading Ateneo to a Final Four appearance.

Kent Pastrana of defending champion University of Santo Tomas (UST) finished a distant second in the MVP race with 79.857 SPs, built around per-game averages of 15.21 points, 8.36 rebounds, 3.29 assists and 2.21 steals.

Article continues after this advertisement

Dela Rosa joined Cassy Tioseco as the only Blue Eagles to win two consecutive UAAP women MVPs.

The last back-to-back MVP winner in the women’s division was former UST star Grace Irebu in 2018 and 2019.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

SIGN ME UP

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Phillips averaged 12.0 points, 11.57 reboundshoya88, 1.71 steals and 1.07 blocks per game for La Salle and will join Quiambao in the mythical team.

READ NEXT Swimming wonder kid sets sights on national team PVL: Gel Cayuna shows way for unbeaten Cignal EDITORS' PICK Andrea del Rosario recalls meeting Vin Diesel, being invited to his parties PBA: Standhardinger rights can stay with Terrafirma despite retirement Manileños push for Isko return, highlighting city’s CMCI honors VP Sara Duterte amid political heat: ‘We will not break’ Why did Iga Swiatek get one-month doping ban? NBI seeks VP Sara Duterte’s cooperation in probing threats to her life MOST READ Comelec junks plea of 18 nuisance bets, one of them to seek SC's help South Korea scrambles jets as Chinese, Russian warplanes approach Taguba says he never changed tune on Paolo Duterte Marcos says he ordered impeachment moves vs VP Sara Duterte stopped Follow @FMangosingINQ on Twitter --> View comments

• hoya88
• dominate
• KQ
• Kacey
• Peers