Student Athlete

The 84th NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament eliminations will end tomorrow, Wednesday. But the Final Four can’t be readily decided after that game.

Depending on the outcome of the last game of the elimination round, the game between the San Beda Red Lions and Letran Knights, the NCAA will have a playoff to determine who gets what seed in the final four.

It is a good time to reveal my top impact rookies that eventually could be the Rookie of the Year for the 2008-2009 NCAA season.

Allan Mangahas. Mangahas had a lot of time as a rookie, averaging 22.8 minutes in 14 games. In that many games, he made 158 points, 54 rebounds, 41 assists and 21 steals. He tops all rookies with his 11.3 points per game. Why he should win the Rookie of the Year Award? Allan Mangahas scored 22 big points against Jose Rizal University to give Mapua Institute of Technology a 9-5 win-loss card to have a three-team tie for the last Final Four berth.

Mapua currently have two rookie of the year awardee in its lineup, Kelvin dela Pena and Jonathan Banal. Coach Leo Isaac might soon have another one.

Jake Pascual. To play for the defending champions as a rookie is a big toll but this rookie stood up and played his game. Coach Frankie Lim gives this rookie an average of 14.9 minutes to score an about 4.9 a game. Pacual played big against Philippine Christian University and Letran , scoring 10 and 12 points, respectively, from 5 two-point shots in as many attempts in both games. Why he would win the Rookie of the Year Award? Jake Pascual and the Red Lions are on top, primed to defend their title.

Other notable players for the Rookie of the Year Award. Mark Sarangay, another Mapuan. Another Rookie of the Year? I don’t know if there was a time in NCAA where there are two players that was named rookie of the year, co-rookie of the year if you may. If there was, I don’t have any idea when was that.

Nchotu John Njei of the JRU had a decent rookie season and have a long shot at the rookie of the year award.

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