Jumamoy leads UAAP MVP race

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 NU’s 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.

Llemit carries 66.0 SPs, averaging 14.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.1 steals while Mongcopa has 65.0 SPs with his 14.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.1 assists average.

Gambian big man Konateh is leading the Best FSA award, a recognition given only if an import tops the SPs after the elimination round, with 78.429 SPs.

The Tamaraws workhorse is averaging 13.86 points, 11.14 rebounds, 2.57 blocks, 2.43 assists, and 1.71 steals per game.

Akowe, who was the first-ever recipient of the Best FSA during his juniors stint in Season 87, has collected 74.857 SPs behind his average of 15.29 points, 13.71 rebounds, 2.14 assists, and 1.86 blocks per outing.

Only the top FSA will be included in the Mythical Team.

Ateneo De Manila University freshman Kieffer Alas has built a strong case for the Rookie of the Year award.

Alas is 10th overall in the SPs list with 59.143 SPs behind his 14.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.6 steals average.

He holds a huge lead over closest rival FEU’s Cabs Cabonilas’ 48.0 SPs and La Salle's Joaquin Tovera, who has 40.429 SPs.

Rounding out the top 10 in the MVP battle are No. 8-ranked Monty Montebon of Adamson (60.571) and ninth-placer University of the Philippines' Veejay Pre with (60.143 SPs)