GMA Brandtalk
Tracking
Archives
UAAP: Parks named MVP, Ravena is ROY
UAAP experience is no longer key to bagging the league’s individual awards. National University’s rookie Bobby Ray Parks was named Most Valuable Player of Season 74 in the men’s basketball tournament. Parks accumulated 66.64 statistical points (SPs), besting favorites Greg Slaughter and Kiefer Ravena. He notched a total of 280 points, 91 rebounds, 40 assists, 15 steals, 15 blocks and 90 bonus points to win despite the Bulldogs’ less than impressive season. “While it makes more sense to award the MVP to a player from a Final Four team, it’s impressive how Parks still won MVP when Slaughter had more statistical points awarded for wins. Was Parks the most valuable player of his team? Absolutely!" says sports analyst Mico Halili. Joining the 18-year-old Bulldog are Ateneo’s Greg Slaughter, Adamson’s Alex Nuyles, Far Eastern University’s Aldrech Ramos and Ateneo’s Kiefer Ravena in the Mythical Five. University of Santo Tomas’ Karim Abdul actually finished third in the MVP race with 60.38 SPs. However, he was stripped of his individual award after incurring two unsportsmanlike fouls, handing the fifth spot to Ravena. Ateneo’s big man Slaughter, who was leading the race after one round, dropped to second place with 63.36 SPs. He put in 186 points, 132 rebounds, 19 assists, one steal, 27 blocks and 195 bonus points. “Greg as a player makes life so much easier in the court," says teammate and veteran guard Bacon Austria. “His presence alone makes the opponents inside change their shots. And height is might. His rebounding and dunking also gives the team a big boost," he adds. Grabbing the third place is Nuyles with 59 SPs coming from 213 points, 77 rebounds, 46 assists, 12 steals, two blocks and 150 bonus points. The veteran Falcon is currently the go-to guy of emerging contender Adamson University, making shots both from the outside and the inside. Nuyles was the top player in Adamson’s successful campaign to cut Ateneo’s winning streak this season. FEU’s veteran Ramos placed fourth, accumulating 57.5714 SPs with 165 points, 131 rebounds, 21 assists, 12 steals, 17 blocks and 135 bonus points. The Tamaraw, one of the team’s most trusted shooters, also played for Pilipinas Smart Gilas alongside Slaughter. Completing the Mythical Five is Ravena who also won Rookie of the Year, an award which is given to the best first-year player coming straight from high school. Parks, although playing as a rookie for NU, spent a year of residency, disqualifying him for the award. Dubbed as “the Phenom," Ravena finished with 56.38 SPs from a total of 184 points, 59 rebounds, 43 assists, 21 steals, one block and 195 bonus points. He had his breakout game against archrival La Salle in the first round, putting in 24 points for the Blue Eagles. “Kiefer’s production dipped in the second round. And guys like Nuyles and Abdul had superb numbers all throughout the tournament," says Halili. However, Ravena’s numbers in the first round proved to be enough to lift his past the likes of Jeric Fortuna and last year’s MVP RR Garcia.
