UST's Jervy Cruz is UAAP Season 70 basketball MVP

Jervy Cruz, forward-center of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers, was officially named as Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 70th UAAP men's basketball tournament at the season awards held on Sunday before a full-house crowd at the Araneta Coliseum. The award was given before Game 2 of the best-of-three men's basketball finals between the University of the East Red Warriors and the La Salle Green Archers, which the Archers won 73-64. The Tigers may have lost the caging title, which they bagged in 2006, but they could at least be proud that one of them stood out at the awarding rites. Cruz has blossomed into one of the UAAP's most formidable post players and a vital cog in the RP team that is set to compete in this year's SEA Games in Thailand. He was a force in the shaded lane for the Tigers this season, with a per-game average of 16.7 points, 1.4 blocks, and a league-best 15.4 rebounds. Those figures make for a commanding total of 75.8 statistical points (SPs), the most earbed by any player since the formula was adopted in 2003. The MVP trophy was handed out by Fr. Ermito G. de Sagon, OP, president of the UAAP Board of Trustees; Felicitas Francisco, UAAP secretary-treasurer; and Takashi Kozu, vice president of Sony Philippines. Cruz was also named as s PS Bank's Maasahan Player of the Year for his outstanding leadership both inside and outside the court. Ernest Perez, head of the communications department PS Bank, presented to Cruz a ceremonial check of P50,000. Named to the seniors' Mythical Five were: • JVee Casio (55.79 SPs) of La Salle • Rico Maierhofer (53.43 SPs) of La Salle • Mark Borboran (51.21 SPs) of UE • Chris Tiu (49.14 SPs) • Jervy Cruz (again) Casio, Maierhofer, Borboran, and Cruz personally received their trophies while Tiu was represented by his brother, Charles. The players also received ceremonial checks of P15,000 each from PS Bank. Far Eastern University's hardworking greenhorn Ron Cawaling (36.64 SPs) was named Rookie of the Year, edging out University of the Philippines playmaker Mike Gamboa (32 SPs) and Ateneo golden-haired gunslinger Kirk Long (28.33.). Cawaling got a trophy for the honor. KFC's Assist Delivery Award that went to Tiger point guard Japs Cuan, who average 4.6 assists in 14 regular season games. And the Smart Defensive Player of the Year Award went to forward Edwin Asoro, for making a per-game average of 1.5 blocks and 1.7 steals in 14 regular season games. KFC's Rico Roberto handed out a ceremonial check of P10,000 to Cuan for being named the Best Passer. Asoro was chosen as the Best Defensive Player for being the only player to land in the top two in rebounds, blocks, and steals. The MVP in the juniors division is UP Baby Maroon Samuel Marate, while the juniors Rookie of the Year is FEU Baby Tamaraw Dave Kurt S. De Guzman. Name as the juniors' Mythical Five were: • Juan Miguel B. Tiongson of Ateneo • John David Dumrique of Ateneo • Josh David Webb of La Salle • Kevin Mchael Batac of the National University Bullpup • Mark Jovet Mendoza of the NU Bullpups Over the women's side, center Cassey Tioseco of the Ateneo Lady Blue Eagles was named as this year's MVP. She was also named to the Mythical First Five after dominating in scoring, rebounding and blocks statistics. - GMANews.TV