Individual Awards: UAAP Season 69 Picks

by Milo

With only three games remaining in Season 69 of the UAAP Season, two crucial games (NU vs ADMU, FEU vs ADMU) on Saturday and an almost no-bearing game on Sunday (UE vs ADMU), it is probably time to predict the individuals who will garner the coveted top awards for this year in Men’s Basketball.

Coach of the Year: Norman Black, Ateneo Blue Eagles
With one year of experience tucked under his belt, Norman Black spearheaded the surge of the Ateneo Blue Eagles from the sidelines, and turned this team into a faster, more aggressive and more team-oriented squad despite the significant drop of talent with the departure of star point guard LA Tenorio, star center Japeth Aguilar, clutch shooter Magnum Membrere, and hustle player Bajjie del Rosario. No one would’ve thought that Ateneo would win, and even threatened to sweep the entire pre-final four. No one would’ve guessed that Rabeh Al-Hussaini, a joke last year, could be such a presence inside. Who would’ve thought that Doug Kramer, known for his butterfingers, be a consistent near or double-double generator each game? And why are the Blue Eagles scoring an average of 86.5 points per game, dishing out 18.4 assists, grabbing 43.9 rebounds while only turning the ball an average of 15.6 per game? (By the way, those stats are ranked first in the league) Norman Black prepared these guys well for this season, and I would not be surprised if they win it all this year.

Next in line: Pido Jarencio, UST Tigers.

Defensive Player of the Year: Edwin Asoro, NU
This is one tough award to give out. No one in this current season has really stood out as a defensive presence much like Arwind Santos last year. In fact, I could also give this out to the wonder rookie Jervy Cruz of the UST Tigers, Doug Kramer of the Ateneo Blue Eagles, or even my pick for MVP Ken Bono of the Adamson Falcons. However, I’m tossing a coin (if there’s a four-sided coin, then I’m tossing that as well) and say Asoro wins it this year. Sure, the Bulldogs are once again, in the bottom of the standings, but Asoro has been doing it all for his team this year that his name appears in the top ten of blocks, rebounds and steals. Throw in that he’s also in the top ten in points, and you can see an all-around player who tries his best offensively and defensively to carry the Bulldogs to the final four.

Next in line: Jervy Cruz, Doug Kramer, Ken Bono, Macky Escalona

Mythical Five:
Center – Ken Bono, ADU
Forward – Doug Kramer, ADMU
Forward – JC Intal, ADMU
Guard – Bonbon Custodio, UE
Guard – Marvin Cruz, UP

Ahhh, the mythical five, probably the toughest picks of them all. I picked these guys due to their consistency throughout the season. I’m more or less ok with my picks with the exception of Bonbon Custodio only because Jeffrei Chan has been a demon this season for the Tamaraws despite the losses. Discussions are most welcome for these picks.

Next in line: Center – Jervy Cruz (UST), Forward – Edwin Asoro (NU), Jeffrei Chan (FEU), Nestor David (UP), Guard, Jonas Villanueva (FEU), Chris Tiu (ADMU)

Rookie of the Year: Jervy Cruz, UST
Jervy would win this hands-down. This season has shown us many promising rookies like Ateneo’s Eric Salamat and UP’s Migs de Asis and Woody Co, but none as dominating and significant as starter Jervy Cruz. Just look at what he’s done in his rookie year: top 5 in points, league leader in rebounds, top 3 in blocks, and averaging 16.2 points, 12.8 rebounds, 1.2 blocks while sporting only 1.9 turnovers. Plus, he has gotten into the double-double figure territory in all 12 games except one this season. Some of those are not of pure luck alone — does 18 points and 20 rebounds in one game, 25 points and 14 rebounds, 17 points and 15 rebounds sound weak? You just might be looking at the next MVP of the league right here in the future.

[EDIT] I’ve just found out that Jervy may not be eligible to win rookie of the year for one reason or the other. So if Jervy is not available, then my pick will go to Migs de Asis of the UP Fighting Maroons. Albeit a bit trigger happy at the three, he has been a good player for the Maroons despite the losses encountered. He has been nailing those mid-range jumpers as if the hoop was two feet away. Often reliable at the rainbow, he helped the Maroons out of some tight spots, and open up the middle with his shooting for their big guys to operate in. Second in scoring amongst all rookies (behind Jervy), second in average 3-pointers, this guy is certainly rookie-of-the-year material.

MVP: Karl Kenneth Bono, ADU

If not Ken, then JC Intal of the Ateneo Blue Eagles, but Ken Bono is the man for this year’s MVP award. I would’ve placed Marvin Cruz here, but UP’s performance this year most likely crumbled all his chances of garnering that award. Ken Bono, leader of the Soaring Falcons is having his best year in UAAP this time around sporting averages of 22.1 (up from 11.7 in 2005) points, 10.5 (up from 6.6) rebounds per game, and 1.6 (up from .6) assists, not to mention his overall improvement in defense, his midrange jumpers, his stamina/durability and his clutch shooting in endgame has powered the Falcons to where they are now. His wide body couldn’t possibly make him a good shotblocker, but he does not get winded that easily anymore that he can now provide offense and defense on both ends of the court, stay in the game longer, and go with the flow of the running game this year. And yes, this is the man who led the Falcons into almost defeating the Blue Eagles twice this season (yes, if it were not for Chris Tiu’s final shot, or JC Intal’s running bank in the wee seconds of those games, Adamson would’ve swept the Blue Eagles this season).

There you have it, my picks for the individual awards for season 69. Feel free to comment on my choices anytime.