SAN Beda University sent three players to the Mythical Selection with 6-foot-5 swingman Calvin Oftana hoisting the Most Valuable Player (MVP) trophy in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 95 seniors’ basketball tournament.
Oftana emerged as the season’s best individual performer with a 51.56 player’s average value (PAV) built around norms of 15.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.2 blocks.
But Red Lions star forward stressed that winning their fourth straight championship matters most over the MVP title.
“The MVP award is a bonus. Winning the championship is more important for us,” Oftana told the BusinessMirror.
San Beda goes for its fourth straight title against Letran in a best-of-three Finals starting with Game One set at 4 p.m. on Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Oftana’s teamate, Evan Nelle—arguably the season’s top ball handler—landed at No. 2 with 45.39 PAV. He averaged 10.2 points, 6.7 assists that leads the league, along with 4.5 boards and 1.6 steals.
James Canlas made it 1-2-3 for San Beda with his 45.33 PAV after posting an average of 14.1 points, 5.6 boards and 2.8 assists during the season.
Completing the Mythical Five are San Sebastian’s Allyn Bulanadi (45.28 PAV on 20.3 points, five boards. 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals) and Lyceum of the Philippines University’s Jaycee Marcelino (43.94 PAV on 18.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.4 steals).
In the final year of imports, San Beda’s Donald Tankoua was hailed as the league’s Best Foreign Player with 45.28 PAV, while Lyceum’s Mike Nzuesseu bagged the Most Defensive plum with 9.7 rebounds and 0.9 blocks.
Arellano University’s Justine Arana was named Rookie of the Year with 35.50 PAV on 13.4 points, 7.8 boards, 2.8 blocks and 1.4 assists.
Letran’s Fran Yu was the Most Improved Player with 9.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.6 steals.