UAAP Season 77 MVP Watch: Week 4

Four weeks into the season and we’re now nearing the end of the first round of eliminations.

Did your MVP bets make it to the top five of our MVP Watch this week? Read on to find out.

5. Chris Newsome, Ateneo Blue Eagles

Previous Rank: 8

Chris Newsome’s athleticism gives the Blue Eagles an edge (Photo credit: Raddy Mabasa, Fabilioh)

Chris Newsome’s performance in their game against FEU brought him back to the top five after missing the cut for the past two weeks. He shot 77.8 percent from the field (2-of-2 from downtown), grabbed seven boards, and contributed two blocks. Newsome is Ateneo’s best rebounder, averaging eight rebounds per contest and also one of their peskiest defenders. He needs more consistency in terms of taking it strong to the hoop, especially since the Blue Eagles have limited go-to players who can finish inside the paint. As for outside shooting, he has shown huge improvement from 23.5 percent last season to 62.5 percent.

4. Karim Abdul, UST Growling Tigers

Previous Rank: 6

Karim Abdul continues to bruise defenders from down low (Photo credit: Jerome Ascao, SPIN)

Karim Abdul has been part of the honorable mentions since the beginning of our MVP Watch, and now he’s finally made it to number four.  He’s one of the main reasons why UST is among the top three defensive teams in the league so far this season. He makes a living out of the shaded area defensively and offensively. He scored a game-high of 18 points in their victory against the UP Fighting Maroons. Abdul norms nine rebounds per match, which is second in the league but is a decline from his last year’s average of 12.1.

3. Alfred Aroga, NU Bulldogs

Previous Rank: 10

NU found a prized center in Alfred Aroga (Photo credit: Mark Cristino, ABS-CBN News)

Cameroonian Alfred Aroga is currently the league’s top rebounder and shot blocker, averaging 10 boards and 2.2 blocks per outing. He gives the much-needed inside presence for the Bulldogs on both sides of the court. Against UE, he made the last stop that prevented Roi Sumang from sending the game to overtime. He finished with a huge double-double – 18 points and 15 rebounds. Aroga will be crucial for NU as they try to maintain their top seed record.

2. Mac Belo, FEU Tamaraws

Previous Rank: 2

For the second straight week, Mac Belo is number two (Photo credit: Chris Lagunzad, Yahoo PH Sports)

I don’t even know how to begin describing the positive impact of Mac Belo to FEU. This hardworking forward comes off the bench and averages only 25 minutes per game but still manages to norm 18.8 points and 5.4 rebounds. Although he’s been instrumental for the Tamaraws even last season, Belo’s consistently good performance this year still came as a surprise to many. Leaving defenders in the dust, sneaking in for rebounds, and creating unimaginable shots are his specialty. He currently has the highest Player Efficiency Rating in the league with 39 (for players who have played more than four games and average at least 15 minutes per game). His 66.9 percent true shooting percentage is also among the league’s best.

1. Kiefer Ravena, Ateneo Blue Eagles

Previous Rank: 1

Kiefer Ravena remains untoppled in our MVP Watch (Photo Credit: Mark Cristino, ABS-CBN News)

Kiefer Ravena stayed on top even after an off game versus NU. All the more now that he had another remarkable performance against FEU. He finished with 23 points, making a 7-0 run all by himself in the crucial moments of the match. What’s more notable was his seven assists, highlighting his ability to involve his teammates and create shots for them. Kiefer is doing everything in his power – just look at the numbers across his statline – to bounce back from last year. He’s definitely a man on a mission and it’s exciting to watch out what else he has in store for us for the rest of the season.

Honorable Mentions