3-way race for PBA’s MVP plum looms

MANILA, Philippines - A three-way fight for the Philippine Basketball Association’s season Most Valuable Player (MVP) award looms among Barangay Ginebra’s JayJay Helterbrand, Alaska’s Willie Miller and Talk `N Text’s Mac Cardona. The 6-foot-1 Helterbrand and Miller, a two-time MVP winner, captured Best Player of the Conference honors in the Fiesta Conference and the Philippine Cup tournaments, respectively, while Cardona copped the Finals MVP award when the Phone Pals ruled the season-opening tournament in seven games against the Aces. Coca-Cola’s Asi Taulava, Burger King’s Arwind Santos, Sta. Lucia’s Kelly Williams and San Miguel’s Dondon Hontiveros are the other players likely to crowd the race in what is widely seen as one of the most hotly-contested awards in years. Already an MVP winner in 2003, Taulava is currently the man leading the average statistical points race with 32.14. Williams, the reigning MVP, is a close second (32.07) while Helterbrand is at third spot with 30.6 SPs. Santos is running fourth with 29.3 SPs while Cardona has an average SP of 28.9. Hontiveros failed to make it to the Top 5 with his 28.08 SPs. The MVP is determined after tabulating the points from the SPs plus votes coming from the players, media, TV coveror and the Commissioner’s Office. Taulava and Williams, however, will most likely lag behind in the voting after their respective teams hardly made an impact in the season’s two conferences. Williams even failed to finish the Fiesta Conference after being diagnosed with a rare blood disorder after the All-Stars break. Gabe Norwood of Rain or Shine is virtually a cinch to win the Rookie of the Year plum over teammate Sol Mercado. Mythical Selection candidates James Yap, Ranidel de Ocampo, Kerby Raymundo and nine others are also vying for the Mythical Selections. Helterbrand, Miller, Alex Cabagnot and Jimmy Alapag are contenders for the point guard spots; Cardona, Hontiveros, Yap and Gary David for off-guards; De Ocampo, Norwood, Raymundo, Santos, Williams, Nick Belasco, Harvey Carey, Joe Devance and Jay Washington for forwards and Taulava, Enrico Villanueva and Jay-R Reyes for centers. Reyes is also a candidate for the Most Improved Player award alongside Paul Artadi, Gabby Espinas, JR Quinahan and Jonas Villanueva. Slugging it out for the Sportsmanship Award are Devance, Jonas Villanueva, Cyrus Baguio, Bitoy Omolon and Ryan Reyes. Contenders for the All-Defensive Team are players Taulava, Carey, Quinahan, Raymundo, Norwood, Omolon, Jay-R Reyes, Ali Peek, Mick Pennisi, Marlou Aquino, Dennis Espino, Reynel Hugnatan and Billy Mamaril and backcourt men Cardona, Hontiveros, Miller, Ryan Reyes, Ronald Tubid, Jonas Villanueva, Jireh Ibanes, Solomon Mercado, Jason Castro and Wynne Arboleda. - GMANews.TV