‘Super Ababou’ leads UAAP individual awardees

(Update) University of Santo Tomas ace Dylan Ababou enjoyed his crowning glory as the UAAP Season 72’s Most Valuable Player on Sunday. Ababou, whom UST coach Pido Jarencio had called “Super Ababou" for his consistent performance in the Tigers’ campaign, was awarded the league’s top individual plum prior to Game 2 of the finals between defending champion Ateneo and University of the East, now tied at 1-1. The 6-foot-3 Ababou highlighted his MVP season with a league-best average of 18.9 points per game, along with 7.1 rebounds per outing and a 40.4 percent marksmanship on the floor. He was also the only player to score at least 10 points in all of the Tigers’ 14 games in the eliminations. Joining Ababou in the Mythical 5 were UE’s Paul Lee and Elmer Espiritu, FEU’s Aldrech Ramos, and Ateneo’s Rabeh Al-Hussaini, last year’s season MVP. Ababou’s teammate, Jeric Teng, son of former PBA player Alvin Teng, also got his share of the spotlight as he won Rookie of the Year honors. For the 22-year-old Ababou, being MVP in the prestigious league was something he didn’t imagine. “Hindi ko agad naisip na magiging MVP ako dahil paano ako mananalo ng MVP kung ang pinanggalingan kong high school, hindi rich in basketball tradition?" said Ababou, referring to Sienna College, a school that does not compete in big high school leagues. Despite that, Ababou made it to the RP Youth team and he credited his coach at Sienna, Bam Tumapat, for his progress. “Tinuruan niya ako mag-guard dahil noong high school, center ang laro ko," Ababou said. The new MVP would have loved it if his Tigers team made it all the way to the finals but nonetheless expressed satisfaction that they reached the Final Four. “Wala kaming center sa team pero naka-Final Four kami. Sobra kaming nag-effort para lang makapasok sa Final Four kaya contented na din ako kahit hindi kami nakapasok sa finals," he said. Ababou has used up his playing years for UST but he is confident the Tigers will be competitive next year even without him and Khasim Mirza. “Mas bata sila next year pero sana makakuha sila ng mga malalaki pa. Pero ‘yung Jeric Teng, matapang ‘yun at buo ang loob kaya maganda rin ang future ng UST," said Ababou, who is leaving the mantle to Teng, Clarke Bautista and Jeric Fortuna. - GMANews.TV