Escamis reigns as Rookie-MVP

MANILA, Philippines — Mapua’s Clint Escamis was hoping to go home with a fifth trophy after snaring four earlier including the NCAA Season 99 Most Valuable Player plum.

He would have to wait for a week though.

For now, Escamis would have to be content with the individual awards as the Cardinals fell to the San Beda Lions in Game Two.

Apart from the MVP plum, Escamis was part of the First Mythical Team, the Defensive Team and was the recipient of the Rookie of the Year plum during the awards rites held before Game Two.

He took the spotlight after averaging 16.6 points and 3.65 steals, both league highs, apart from 5.95 rebounds and a total of 53.16 Player Average Value, besting Lyceum of the Philippines University’s Enoch Valdez (44.82).

University of Perpetual Help’s Jun Roque, Emilio Aguinaldo College’s JP Maguliano and Mapua’s Warren Bonifacio joined Escamis and Valdez in the elite first squad.

Other individual awardees were San Sebastian’s Romel Calahat (Defensive Player of the Year) and Letran’s Jay Garupil (Freshman of the Year).