The Inaugural Baller Awards: The UAAP Season 76 Edition

Our inaugural Baller Awards will now turn to the amateur scene here in the Philippines, where the UAAP is undoubtedly king, at least in terms of marketability. It was a very exciting year for the UAAP, mainly because the race to the title was wide open, what with five-peat titlists Ateneo severely hampered by the exodus of its top players and injuries left and right. Indeed, 2013 saw the breaking out of several teams and players, and this post will, hopefully, fete them with their deserved citations.

These are the guys who did really well in UAAP hoops, though we will also take a look at how they did in the Filoil Preseason Cup and the PCCL. Were these players able to lead their teams to the title in one, or some, or all of these tournaments? What milestones did they or their teams achieve? What kind of mark did they leave on the UAAP as a whole in 2013?

Will Jeron Teng be a big winner in our inaugural Baller Awards?
(image by Jan Dizon/Inboundpass.com)

Now, because I’ll be resuming my day job duties pretty soon (read: January 6, 2014), I’ve chosen to condense this UAAP edition (and the subsequent NBA edition) to just a single post each. This means there will no longer be detailed explanations for each nominee. Instead, I will just explain why a particular winner was chosen and then enumerate the others who were in consideration.

And the BALLERS go to…


The Best UAAP Point Guard of 2013:
ROI SUMANG – UE Red Warriors
Yes, Sumang’s Warriors fell short of the Final Four in Season 76, but look at the rest of his body of work in 2013. He led UE to its second Filoil title, beating NU in the Finals, 81-68. He averaged about 19 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 2 triples per game in the UAAP. He was second overall in scoring and assists, and he was fourth overall in steals. He also led UE in advancing all the way to the Quarterfinals of the Luzon-Manila Regional in the 2013 PCCL. UE went 5-0 before bowing to the Bulldogs, 73-63. Sumang was a beast in 2013, and he’s sure to continue being awesome in 2014.

Other nominees:
RR Garcia (FEU), Juami Tiongson (AdMU), Gelo Alolino (NU), Nico Elorde (AdMU)

Roi Sumang is our Best UAAP Point Guard for 2013.
(image by Raffy Dela Peña/Filoil Flying V)

The Best UAAP Shooting Guard of 2013:
TERRENCE ROMEO – FEU Tamaraws
Hey, the kid was MVP, right? That is worth something. And, frankly, he did have a great final season in the UAAP. Despite a dip in minutes played, most of his numbers went up, from points to rebounds to assists and even steals. Now that’s growth. Sure, his struggles with RR Garcia, sharing the basketball, and his hairdo were well-documented, but the fact is Romeo was maybe the most dangerous player in the UAAP this past season. Every time he took that step-back or pull-up, you gasped. Admit it. Too bad he just couldn’t lead FEU back to the Finals.

Other nominees:
Jeric Teng (UST), Almond Vosotros (DLSU), Jericho Cruz (AdU), Kiefer Ravena (AdMU)


The Best UAAP Small Forward of 2013:
JERON TENG – DLSU Green Archers
In terms of numbers, one can make an argument that Jeron’s performance dipped a little bi in Season 76, what with his scoring and shooting stats all finishing a little below what he recorded in Season 75. Here's the thing, though – this super sophomore led his team, the De La Salle Green Archers, to not one but TWO important college hoops titles. From being in the bottom four of the standings to end round one of Season 76, the Archers rode Teng all the way to the UAAP title. A few months later, the Greenies were still at it, beating the SWU Cobras in the PCCL Finals. And at the center of it all? Why, nobody but Jeron Teng, who still has three years of eligibility in the league. Gulp.

Other nominees:
Ray Parks (NU), Ryan Buenafe (AdMU), Sam Marata (UP), Kevin Ferrer (UST)


The Best UAAP Power Forward of 2013:
JASON PERKINS – DLSU Green Archers
Prior to the summer of 2013, only die-hard UAAP followers ever heard or cared about Perkins. He was on their collective radar for a while, sure, but even they were surprised by the kind of impact this kid from Minnesota left. In his very first season in the league, Perkins proved to be a nightmare of a match-up for opposing forwards. He had the handles to attack from the wing, the touch to shoot from range, and enough bulk to bully his way in the paint. More importantly, he had a knack for making big plays. In just his first UAAP year, Perkins was already DLSU’s most efficient player – 33.89 EFF.

Other nominees:
Chris Newsome (AdMU), Rodney Brondial (AdU), Aljon Mariano (UST), Mark Belo (FEU)


The Best UAAP Center of 2013:
KARIM ABDUL – UST Growling Tigers
I love the numbers of Mammie and Mbe. I love the growth in AVO’s game. I love how Soyud was the lone bright spot for the Maroons. But, in terms of how he just affected his team’s title chances, Abdul was this season’s best center. Sure, he had some barf-worthy moments (a total of 13 points and 13 rebound sin the Final Four against NU? Yuck), but he more than made up for it by norming nearly 20-10 in the Finals and taking UST to a win away from another UAAP crown. Almost a title, but still the best center. That’s Karim Abdul.

Other nominees:
Charles Mammie (UE), Emmanuel Mbe (NU), Raul Soyud (UP), Arnold Van Opstal (DLSU)

Karim Abdul is the best UAAP slotman of 2013.
(image by Jan Dizon/Inboundpass.com)


The Best UAAP Coach of 2013:
JUNO SAULER – DLSU Green Archers
I love what Boysie Zamar did with UE – winning the Filoil tourney is no joke. I also believe it takes greatness to handle the rosters (and egos) of FEU, UST, and NU, but I cannot, for the life of me, deny DLSU’s Juno Sauler this citation. He found out about his appointment about a month ahead of the UAAP’s opening. He had some injury issues to deal with and a pretty thin backcourt. His team had more losses than wins after the first round. And yet, despite everything, he led the Archers in dethroning the Blue Eagles. He gave La Salle its first men’s hoops crown since 2007. And I smell at least a couple more on the way.

Other nominees:
Nash Racela (FEU), Pido Jarencio (UST), Eric Altamirano (NU), Boysie Zamar (UE)

Juno Sauler is out UAAP Coach of the Year.
(image from Burn Sports)


The Best UAAP Foreign Player of 2013:
KARIM ABDUL – UST Growling Tigers
Mammie and Mbe were beasts, Sewa looked like one (and played like one occasionally), and Hargrove had his moments, but, again, no other foreign player had as much impact as Abdul, who played in his second straight UAAP Finals. Abdul had the third-best EFF rating of Season 76, right behind Mammie and Ray Parks, but neither of those two were able to lead their respective schools to the Finals, right?

Other nominees:
Charles Mammie (UE), Ingrid Sewa (AdU), Emmanuel Mbe (NU), Anthony Hargrove (FEU)


The UAAP Breakthrough Player for 2013:
ARNOLD VAN OPSTAL – DLSU Green Archers
All the other nominees for this citation had big improvements in their game from Season 75 to 76, but AVO was just on another level, and his team benefited big time from his growth. From one of the most criticized young big men in local hoops, AVO blossomed into a potentially dominant inside force who could just impose his will. From 5.0ppg, 5.4rpg, and 0.4bpg in S75, AVO registered 9.4ppg, 6.7rpg, and 1.0bpg in S76. He had two double-doubles for the season, including that 13-14 beauty in Game 2 of the Finals. I guess it’s no longer fashionable to say he’s the next Ferdinand, eh?

Other nominees:
Kevin Ferrer (UST), Jericho Cruz (AdU), Almond Vosotros (DLSU), Mark Belo (FEU)


The Best UAAP Newcomer of 2013:
JASON PERKINS – DLSU Green Archers
Again, Perkins burst through the gates guns ablaze and left everyone slack-jawed. Ateneo’s Newsome had slightly better numbers this season, but Perkins, despite a super-loaded DLSU roster, still managed to put up double-double final averages of 12.1ppg and 10.0rpg. He shot a mind-boggling 54% from beyond the arc and 50% from the field overall. And, again, he went home with the championship trophy. Nobody else on the list of nominees did that.

Other nominees:
Chris Newsome (AdMU), Charles Mammie (UE), Ingrid Sewa (AdU), Ralf Olivares (UE)


The UAAP Player of the Year for 2013:
JERON TENG – DLSU Green Archers
Abdul was the best big, Sumang was the best guard, Perkins was the bets newcomer, and Romeo was MVP. Season 76, however, belonged to Jeron Teng. It was his coming out party. It was the time he shed the “choker” cat-calls. He stepped onto the biggest stage and hit the biggest shots. From norming around 15 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists in the elims, Teng put up about 20 points, 8 boards, 4 assists, and 2 steals in the three-game Finals. Clutch much? Also, who else could prank his brother into meeting Jessy Mendiola? That, folks, was amazing icing on the cake.

Other nominees:
Karim Abdul (UST), Jason Perkins (DLSU), Terrence Romeo (FEU), Roi Sumang (UE)

Jeron Teng (L) is our UAAP Player of the Year for 2013.
(image by Jan Dizon/Inboundpass.com)

  
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2 Comment
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it should be The Green Archer Awards ( and some other team )

Balas
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Winning the UAAP and PCCL really made it the Archers' year, yes? Could be a dynasty-in-the-making.

Balas