By NIKOLE JAVIER
Schonny Winston of La Salle emerged as the frontrunner in the Most Valuable Player (MVP) derby after the first round of the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament.
The deadly shooter from the Taft-based school is leading the race for the highest individual award by a wide margin after piling up 84.429 statistical points against the 76.571 closest rival Forthsky Padrigao of Ateneo.
Winston’ teammate Evan Nelle, who only played five games after missing their earlier matches due to fever, is ranked No. 3 with 73.6 followed by UP’s Carl Tamayo (72.714) and reigning MVP Ange Kouame (71.571).
Winston amassed 149 points apart from posting 43 rebounds, 23 assists and 21 blocks after recording a total of 226:23 minutes on the floor in seven games, the most among other players.
The La Salle guard, who is playing his last year in the league, is averaging 21.29 points per contest, keeping his team afloat with a 3-4 win-loss record.
Padrigao, on the other hand, averaged 12.86 points per game and ranked second in assists with 6.14 behind La Salle’s Nelle with 7.8.
Preseason MVP favorite Tamayo, averaged 14.86 points per match while Kouame played huge defense for Ateneo averaging 11.43 rebounds and 2.57 blocks per game to put himself in the race.
