Adamson's Bono, Ateneo's Intal vie for MVP spot in 69th UAAP season

Karl Kenneth Bono of the Adamson University Falcons and JC Intal of the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Blue Eagles are the top favorites for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) plum for leading the statistical points (SPs) category after the elimination round of the 69th UAAP Men's basketball season. The heavyset center of the Adamson Falcons ended the elimination contest with 74.17 SPs, just one point behind King Eagle Intal with 73.17. The 6-foot-5 Bono have shown consistent numbers this season posting many double-doubles including a 33-point 12-rebound performance against the University of the Philippines on August 26. Leading the league in scoring with a 21.8 clip, Bono’s leadership has propelled the Falcons to its first Final Four appearance since the format was introduced in 1994. Intal, a 6-foot-4 forward, is one of the reasons why Ateneo De Manila have the top spot in the UAAP, leading the Blue Eagles in scoring with 17.8 points per game and averaging 7.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists per match. Moreover, his game-winning lay-up to eliminate the FEU Tamaraws to the Final Four picture last September 7 proved him to be the main man for Ateneo. The two men have pulled away from the rest of the pack as Jervy Cruz of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers is in far third with 68.9 SPs, followed by Marvin Cruz of the University of the Philippines (UP) Maroons with 62.00 SPs. Doug Kramer of Ateneo is in fifth with 60.17 SPs. Jeff Chan of Far Eastern University (FEU) (58.50), Bonbon Custodio of University of the East (UE) (57.83), Edwin Asoro of National University (NU)(57.17), Jonas Villanueva of FEU (55.58), and Mark Borboran of UE (55.25) round out the top ten. Asoro dipped from third to eighth while Custodio dropped from fourth to seventh in comparison to the Statistical Report after the first round. Borboran dive down a spot while Jojo Duncil of UST plunged out of the Top Ten after missing several games due to a suspension and a recent illness. UST’s Cruz gained four spots higher while UP’s Cruz moved from eighth to fourth. Kramer and Villanueva moved a notch higher. In women’s play, Merenciana "Ewon" Arayi of the Adamson Lady Falcons still leads the pack with 71.17 SPs while Ateneo Lady Eagle Cassy Tioseco is in second with 63.75 SPs. Marichu Bacaro of UST finished the eliminations in third with 58.42 SPs. Meanwhile, Erwin Duran of the UE Pages overtook FEU’s Socrates Rivera for the lead. Duran had 79.00 SPs compared to Rivera’s 70.83. Mark Lopez, also of the FEU-FERN Baby Tamaraws, is in third with 62.75. - GMANews.TV