University of Santo Tomas go-to-guy Dylan Ababou, shown here in action in one of the Growling Tigers’ past game, emerged as the 72nd UAAP season Most Valuable Player. (Photo by BOB DUNGO JR.)

University of Santo Tomas hotshot Dylan Ababou will be named the Most Valuable Player after registering the highest statistical points after the double-round eliminations of the 72nd UAAP basketball tournament.

The 6-3 Ababou tallied 62.9286 points to edge Far Eastern University center Aldrech Ramos (61.7857 points) and last year's MVP Rabeh Al-Hussaini (60.5000 points).

Playing in all 14 games, the Smart Gilas standout averaged 18.9 points and 7.1 rebounds to become the fourth UST cager in 16 years to bag the league’s highest individual honor.

The selection of the MVP and other awards were based solely on statistics, a new rule after the UAAP board discontinued the use of votes from players, coaches, officials and media from the criteria prior to the start of the season.

In previous years, the league gets 50 percent of the statistical points with the remaining half going through the votes to determine who wins the MVP plum.

Ababou, Ramos and Al-Hussaini will join the University of the East duo of Elmer Espiritu (60.2143 points) and Paul Lee (58.4286 points) in the Mythical Five.

It will be a double celebration for the Tigers as Jeric Teng was named the league’s Rookie of the Year after posting 40.9286 points, beating UP’s Mikee Reyes via a wide margin.

Adamson’s Analyn Almazan and FEU-Nicanor Reyes Educational Foundation’s Terrence Romeo were named as the MVP in the women’s and juniors divisions, respectively.

Almazan made 73.7143 points to defeat UE's Cindy Resultay (68.7857 points) while Romeo, who shattered the all-time scoring record with 83 points against UP Integrated School, was the runaway winner with 108.8571 points. — Jonas Terrado