UAAP's top 2 players both Ateneo rookies

The Ateneo Blue Eagles suddenly lost their best player from last year's championship squad before the start of the UAAP tournament, but may have gotten even better. A look at the UAAP individual statistics from the first round should clear up any mystery about that. ADMU - Ateneo de Manila University; NU - National University; UST - University of Santo Tomas; FEU - Far Eastern University; AdU - Adamson University; DLSU - De La Salle University; UP - University of the Philippines; GP - Games played The league's top two leaders in "total statistical points" are Ateneo players, both newcomers to the team - Greg Slaughter and Kiefer Ravena. "Total statistical points" is a measure that combines various performance categories and is a basis for the Most Valuable Player Award at the end of the season. Slaughter is a 6'11" Fil-Am transferee from the University of the Visayas and Ravena is the most heralded college rookie since perhaps Benjie Paras of the champion UP Fighting Maroons in 1986. Slaughter is the UAAP's premier big man, a league leader in scoring, rebounds and blocked shots. Third in statistical points is another rookie, Bobby Ray Parks of National University, who is the current scoring leader at 17.14 points per game. Last year's Finals Most Valuable Player, Ryan Buenafe, was kicked off the Ateneo team over the summer for academic and still vague disciplinary reasons. But the Blue Eagles, now the overwhelming favorite to win their fourth consecutive UAAP championship, don't seem to miss him. - HS, GMA News