Amiel Acido becomes first NCAA Juniors MVP from Perpetual

Published March 20, 2024 1:34pm

Updated March 20, 2024 1:34pm

Amiel Acido just made history after being named the NCAA Season 99 juniors basketball tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP) for steering University of Perpetual Help System DALTA to its first-ever finals appearance.

The 19-year-old Acido amassed 57.22 player average value (PAV) to emerge as the first player from Perpetual to ever win the top plum since the league handed out individual juniors awards. 

Acido, who averaged 17.67 points, 10.0 rebounds, 4.11 assists, and 0.67 steals after the elimination round, also led the Mythical Five alongside teammate Lebron Jhames Daep and Mark Gojo Cruz, who collected 48.88 PAV and 47.11 PAV, respectively. 

Completing the Mythical cast are Colegio de San Juan de Letran big man Goerge Diamante and Emilio Aguinaldo College’s explosive guard EJ Castilo after collecting 48.55 and 44.44 apiece. 

Gojo Cruz was named the Rookie of the Year while Castillo was hailed as the Most Improved Player for rising from 84th place last season to fifth in Season 99. The 17-year-old Castillo edged out Letran’s Daniel Padilla, who jumped from 83rd to 26th. 

Jose Rizal University’s Paul Enal is also bagging his second straight Defensive Player of the Year award for collecting 85 rebounds, 10 blocks, and four steals to lead the Defensive Team, which also has his teammate Martin Pineda, Diamante, Acido, and Daep. 

Lyceum of the Philippines University was handed the Sportsmanship Award. 

—JKC, GMA Integrated News