"Big Mike" tops MVP race after Round 1

By Dugout Philippines

Ateneo's Mike Nieto leads all comers in the UAAP Season 77 juniors basketball Most Valuable Player race.

According to figures released by the league’s official statistician Imperium Technology and Smart Bro, Nieto amassed 69.8571 statistical points, ahead of La Salle’s Aljun Melecio and National University’s Mark Dyke, who are tied in second and third place with 67.4286 SPs.

Nieto, whose game-winning lay-up last Saturday gave the Blue Eaglets a 66-64 win over the Bullpups for first round sweep, is No. 4 in the league in scoring with 15 points and is also the fourth-best rebounder with 10.4 per outing.

Nieto’s twin brother, Matthew Nieto, is in fourth place with 62.5714, while La Salle-Zobel’s Joaquin Banzon rounds up to the Top 5 with 55.5714.

Melecio topped the scoring department with 16.4 points per game and in assists as well with 6.0 per outing, and is second-best in steals with 1.7 per game.

Banzon trails his teammate Melecio in scoring with a second-best 15.4 points per game and is currently the leader in steals with 2.1 per game.

Dyke is No. 1 in rebounding with 13.3 points per game and is seventh in scoring with 14.3 points per outing.

Matthew Nieto is tied with his teammate Jolo Mendoza in scoring with 14.9 points per game and second behind Melecio in assists with 3.3 per game.

The Blue Eaglets will enter the second round with a 7-0 slate, while the Bullpups, whose amazing 22-game winning streak was snapped, are in second with a 6-1 card. Sporting a 5-2 card, the Junior Archers are currently in third spot.

After a two-week Christmas break, second round action begins on Jan. 7 at the Blue Eagle Gym.