GROWLING Tigresses center Grace Irebu is set to be named as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) while Tantoy Ferrer emerged as the top rookie in the UAAP Season 81 women’s basketball tournament, said UST coach Haydee Ong.
Irebu will become the first Tigress to win the MVP plum since Marichu Bacarro won it in 2008.
The Congolese cager averaged 18.5 points, 13.9 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game to amass 80.57 statistical points (SP). National University’s reigning MVP Jack Animam had a 79.71 points.
Ferrer, who tallies 7.2 points, 10 boards and two steals per game, will be the first Tigress to win the Rookie of the Year award. She registered 48.92 SP throughout the tournament.
“Tantoy and Grace are the epitome of what our program is all about — hardwork and selfless sacrifice to represent UST well,” Ong said in an online interview.
Joining Irebu and Animam in the UAAP mythical team are UST’s Sai Larosa, Adamson University’s Nathalie Prado and Far Eastern University’s Clare Castro after placing third, fourth and fifth in the SP, respectively.
The Tigresses will still need to win against De La Salle University on Nov. 21, Wednesday, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum for the last Final Four seat.
