Miller, Helterbrand show way in MVP race

MANILA, Philippines – Alaska’s Willie Miller and Ginebra’s Jayjay Helterbrand, winners of the Best Player of the Conference plums in the Philippine Cup and Fiesta Conference, respectively, are two of the seven leading contenders for the season’s Most Valuable Player award.

Coca-Cola’s Asi Taulava, Sta. Lucia’s Kelly Williams, Burger King’s Arwind Santos, Talk n Text’s Mark Cardona and San Miguel’s Dondon Hontiveros are the other players chasing the highest honors to be handed out in the Leo Awards set before Game Four of the Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference finale at the Araneta Coliseum Wednesday.

Taulava, Williams, Helterbrand, Santos and Cardona were the top five players with the most statistical points amassed through the semifinal round of the Fiesta Conference.

Though failing to make the top five in the stats race, Miller and Hontiveros also became MVP contenders. Miller was the Philippine Cup BPC winner and Hontiveros the stats leader of his team which made the Fiesta Conference finals.

Taulava topped the statistical race with an average of 32.14, followed by Williams (32.07), Helterbrand (30.6), Santos (29.3), Cardona (28.9) and Hontiveros (28.08).

The MVP winner will also be determined through balloting among the players, the media, the TV coveror and the Commissioner’s Office.

Helterbrand could well have the edge after winning the Fiesta Conference BPC award. He is also the most consistent among contenders with a finals stint in the season.

Stats race frontrunners Taulava and Williams may not fare well in the poll following poor showings of their respective teams in both the Philippine Cup and Fiesta Conference.

Williams, the 2008 MVP champion, even failed to finish the season due to rare blood disorder problem entering the Fiesta Conference playoffs. His exit also stymied his team’s campaign in the ongoing conference.

Gabe Norwood is the top bet for the Rookie of the Year award and, like the seven MVP contenders, the Rain or Shine stalwart is also in the running for a spot in the Mythical First and Second Teams.

National team hopefuls James Yap, Ranidel de Ocampo, Kerby Raymundo and nine others are also vying for spots in the Mythical Selections.

Helterbrand, Miller, Alex Cabagnot and Jimmy Alapag are contenders for the point guard spots, Cardona, Hontiveros, Yap and Gary David for off-guards, De Ocampo, Norwood, Raymundo, Santos, Williams, Nick Belasco, Harvey Carey, Joe Devance and Jay Washington for forwards and Taulava, Enrico Villanueva and JayR Reyes for centers.

Reyes is also a candidate for the Most Improved Player award alongside Paul Artadi, Gabby Espinas, JR Quinahan and Jonas Villanueva.

Slugging it out for the Sportsmanship Award are Devance, Jonas Villanueva, Cyrus Baguio, Bitoy Omolon and Ryan Reyes.