Cabonilas, Perez Lead MVP Race in UAAP Season 88 Juniors Basketball

Sports | Basketball Posted on 2026-03-10 09:37:08

MANILA – Cabs Cabonilas of Far Eastern University-Diliman is poised to claim the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award after finishing on top of the Statistical Points (SP) race in the UAAP Season 88 boys basketball tournament.

The 6-foot-4 forward from Digos City accumulated 83.286 SPs at the end of the elimination round. The 19-year-old averaged 15.79 points, 8.86 rebounds, 3.79 assists, 1.79 steals, and 1.5 blocks in 14 games, helping the Baby Tamaraws finish with an 11-3 record.

FEU-Diliman will still face Ateneo de Manila University in a playoff for the No. 2 seed on Wednesday at the Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City.

Last season, Kiefer Alas captured the MVP award with 91.429 SPs, edging Cabonilas who recorded 90.071 SPs.

Meanwhile, Ateneo’s Nigerian standout Jude Eriobu will receive the Best Foreign Student-Athlete award after leading the SP tally with 99.857 points. He averaged 21.64 points, 17.07 rebounds, 3.29 blocks, and 1.0 steals across 14 games.

Also making the Elite Team are Maco Dabao of De La Salle‑Zobel, Kirk Canete of University of Santo Tomas, and Ateneo’s Jay M. Leal.

Mot Matias of National University Nazareth School and Malian center Moussa Diakite also ranked among the top statistical performers. However, Matias became ineligible for individual awards after receiving two unsportsmanlike fouls during a game against University of the East on February 25. Diakite was likewise excluded from the Elite Team since only one foreign student-athlete is allowed in the selection.

In the girls division, Rhiane Perez of UST emerged as the leading candidate for MVP after recording 103.5 SPs, narrowly beating Zayden Rosano of NUNS who finished with 101.167 SPs.

The 17-year-old Perez averaged 14.17 points, 10.83 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 3.5 steals, and 2.17 blocks during the eliminations.

UST and NUNS both ended the elimination round with identical 5-1 records and are set to battle in a best-of-three Finals series.

Completing the girls’ Elite Team are Aubrey Lapasaran of NUNS, UST’s Indonesian center Koukoou Talla, and teammate Lea Piñuela.

The awarding ceremony is scheduled on March 22 at 12 noon at the Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym.

NPO News Team l PNA - PR

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