They may be out of the championship picture but the Jose Rizal Heavy Bombers and Light Bombers salvaged a measure of pride by sweeping the Most Valuable Player awards in both the seniors and juniors divisions of the 85th NCAA basketball tournament.
Chief Heavy Bomber John Wilson nosed out American rookie Sudan Daniel of San Beda for the seniors MVP trophy while Light Bomber Louie Vigil copped the plum in the high school side to complete the Kalentong-based school’s domination of the two highest individual awards.
The 6-foot-2 Wilson amassed average statistical points of 52.7 to beat the 6-foot-8 Daniel’s 51.3 points and in the process become the first Bomber to win the award since Ernani Epondulan achieved the feat eight seasons back.
Jose Rizal U’s John Wilson, center, attracts a triple-teaming defense befitting a Most Valuable Player in the Heavy Bombers earlier campaign in the 85th NCAA seniors basketball tournament. Mike Taboy
Overall, Wilson is the sixth season MVP from JRU, along with the likes of Estelito Epondulan (1990), former PBA great Philip Cezar (1972), Sixto Agbay (1969) and Roel Deles (1967).
Wilson’s ascension to the MVP throne was a product of hard work and a continuing desire to be a better player.
“He’s the first one to arrive on the gym where he practices his shooting and he’s also the last player to leave," JRU coach Ariel Vanguardia revealed early in the tournament, when the Bombers got off to a 3-0 start.
Wilson was joined in the Mythical 5 by Daniel, Arellano U’s Giorgio Ciriacruz (43.3), San Sebastian’s Calvin Abueva (42.6) and Letran’s RJ Jazul (42.3).
San Sebastian’s Jimbo Aquino would have been in Jazul’s spot but was disqualified from receiving any individual award for a disqualification foul he committed in the Stags’ playoff match with the Lions last Wednesday.
Daniel of the four-peat seeking Red Lions also emerged the runaway winner of the Rookie of the Year and the Defensive Player of the Year accolades, spiking his feat with a league-best 75 blocks (a whopping 23 more than the next best blocker, San Sebastian freshman Ian Sangalang).
Making it a double-celebration for the Jose Rizal crew was Vigil, who romped off with the MVP and Defensive Player of Year plums in juniors play.
Vigil finished with 68.2 average points, way ahead of Letran’s Jarelan Tampus (60.7) and Glenn Khobuntin (59.6), teammate Joshua Saret (57.6) and San Beda’s Baser Amer (57.3), who was also adjudged top rookie.
Vigil's dominating effort was a fitting followup to former teammate Keith Agovida's MVP season for JRU, making it two in a row for a school that lost its Final Four games.
- GMANews.TV
