HOOPS

Jumamoy leads UAAP MVP derby

Mark Escarlote · Oct 20, 2026, 2:07 AM

REINHARD Jumamoy banners the MVP derby after leading the NU Bulldogs to an impressive run in the first round of the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tournament. — Photograph courtesy of UAAP

Reinhard Jumamoy leads the Most Valuable Player (MVP) race after a stellar first-round performance in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 89 men’s basketball tournament.

After seven grueling games, Jumamoy is ahead of the pack after tallying 72.714 statistical points while leading the Bulldogs to the top of the standings.

The Cebuano guard has averaged 13.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game.

Jumamoy’s leadership also carried weight in National University’s (NU) impressive first-round run.

The Bulldogs are on top of the standings with a 5-2 win-loss record. NU, which is on a three-game winning streak, is actually tied with University of the Philippines but took No. 1 behind its superior quotient.

Jumamoy scored his biggest highlight of the first round when he nailed the game-winning off-the-board three-pointer with half a second left in the Bulldogs’ 87-85 escape over University of Santo Tomas.

Under league rules, Jumamoy leads the race for the MVP — reserved only for local players — despite being third overall in SPs.

The former Juniors MVP and a prime candidate to become the first NU player to win the coveted individual award since Ray Parks bagged the plum in 2011 and 2012 trailed foreign student-athletes Far Eastern University’s Mo Konateh and UST’s Collins Akowe.

Jumamoy leads local rivals Tigers winger Amiel Acido, Bulldogs teammate PJ Palacielo, UST’s Mark Llemit and Far Eastern University’s Kirby Mongcopa.

Acido holds a 68.714 SPs behind his average of 15.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.0 assists, followed by Palacielo’s 66.286 SPs on norms of 12.0 points, 6.3 boards, and 4.4 assists.