Living up to his billing, star transferee Rhenz Abando of the Colegio de San Juan de Letran bagged two of the most coveted individual awards in NCAA Season 97.
The high-flying forward was named the Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year in the ongoing tournament, where the Knights are a win away from a historic season sweep and the title.
The 6-foot-2 wingman, who usually comes off the bench, is the first Letran player to bag the MVP plum since 2013, when current PBA player Raymond Almazan did the same feat.
Meanwhile, he's the first top rookie from Muralla since Larry Muyang in 2018.
Abando is also the first ROY-MVP awardee in seven years after Mapua's Alwell Oraema bagged the top two awards in a single season in 2015.
Completing the Mythical Five are Abando's teammate Jeo Ambohot, Arellano center Justin Arana, San Sebastian College-Recoletos' JM Calma, and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde's Will Gozum.
Arana was also named Defensive Player of the Year for a second consecutive season after tallying 137 rebounds, 23 blocks, and four steals.
Arana, Gozum, Ambohot, and Calma also made it to the Defensive Team alongside Nat Cosejo of Emilio Aguinaldo College and Omar Larupay of Lyceum of the Philippines University.
Paolo Hernandez of Mapua was named Most Improved Player after moving up from 35th place in Statistical Points last season to 10th in Season 97.
—JMB, GMA News
