Letran’s Rhenz Abando became the league’s fourth Rookie of the Year-MVP winner in 18 years in a glitzy awarding ceremony prior to Game 2 of the NCAA men’s basketball Finals Sunday.
The 24-year-old Pangasinan native duplicated the feat of Mapua’s Allwell Oraeme (2015), San Beda’s Sam Ekwe (2006) and Philippine Christian University’s Gabby Espinas (2004) of winning the highest individual award on his debut season in the league.
Abando, with a 48.44 Player Average Value, actually placed second behind Justin Arana’s 58.75 PAVs, but the Arellano University center was not qualified to win the MVP honors as his team failed to make it to the Final Four.
Joining Abando and Arana in the Mythical Team are Letran’s Jeo Ambohot (47.22), College of Saint Benilde’s Will Gozum (46.88) and San Sebastian’s JM Calma (41.77).
For the second consecutive season, Arana was named as the Defensive Player of the Year with 20.50 PAV.
Arana, Ambohot, Gozum and Calma were in the Best Defensive Team along with Nat Cosejo of Emilio Aguinaldo College and Omar Larupay of Lyceum of the Philippines University.
Mapua’s Paolo Hernandez claimed the Most Improved Player plum, while the Sportsmanship Award went to University of Perpetual Help System Dalta.