CLINT ESCAMIS of Mapua University and Kacey dela Rosa of Ateneo de Manila University headlined the 27 standouts from the UAAP Season 87 and NCAA Season 100 in the 2025 San Miguel Corp.-Collegiate Press Corps (SMC-CPC) Awards Night on Monday night at the Discovery Suites in Ortigas, Pasig.

Mr. Escamis was named the Collegiate Men’s Basketball Player of the Year for leading Mapua’s NCAA title run to end a 33-year drought, while Ms. Dela Rosa was recognized as the Collegiate Women’s Basketball Player of the Year for her historic numbers in earning back-to-back UAAP MVP plums.

For Mr. Escamis though, the job’s not yet done as he announced a return to the Cardinals for Season 101 as his last hurrah for a shot at back-to-back NCAA title bid.

“This award just fuels me to help Mapua win back-to-back championships,” said Mr. Escamis, who also headlined the Collegiate Men’s Basketball Mythical Team with two-time UAAP MVP Kevin Quiambao and Mike Phillips of De La Salle University, Finals MVP JD Cagulangan of University of the Philippines (UP) and NCAA MVP Allen Liwag of College of St. Benilde.

It’s the same mission for Ms. Dela Rosa, aiming for a collective prize next season for Ateneo after a bevy of individual plums.

“I’m proud to get this honor, but I also want to help Ateneo win the championship this UAAP Season 88,” vowed Ms. Dela Rosa, joined by Finals MVP Cielo Pagdulagan of National University (NU), Kent Pastrana of University of Santo Tomas, UP’s Louna Ozar and Adamson University’s Elaine Etang in the Collegiate Women’s Basketball Mythical Team.

Players of the Year in volleyball were also recognized for the second time led by three-time UAAP MVP Mhicaela “Bella” Belen (NU) and Zam Nolasco (St. Benilde) for the women’s along with Leo Aringo (NU) and Carl Berdal (Arellano University) in the men’s division from both the UAAP and NCAA.

Football Players of the Year Mon Diansuy and Carmela Altiche of Far Eastern University along with San Beda University’s Amir Aningalan were also honored for the first time ever in the CPC Awards presented by the Philippine Sports Commission, Pilipinas Live and GMA.

Then there were the Coaches of the Year led by UP’s Goldwin Monteverde and Randy Alcantara of Mapua for the staple men’s basketball after leading their squads to UAAP and NCAA championships, respectively.

Also hailed were Volleyball Coaches of the Year Sherwin Meneses and Dante Alinsunurin from NU, Jerry Yee of St. Benilde and Bryan Vitug of Arellano as well as NU’s Aris Dimaunahan, who was recognized as the Collegiate Women’s Basketball Player of the Year.

For reaching 100 seasons, NCAA was given a special citation in the third staging of the CPC awards also backed by Discovery Suites, World Balance, E-Sports International, My Daily Collagen, Centaur Marketing, Buffalo’s Wings N Things and Go for Gold.

The CPC, merged into one umbrella in 2022 from the separate UAAP and NCAA Press Corps, also paid tribute to the late Perpetual Altas volleyball coach Sammy Acaylar and NU Lady Bulldog Ashlyn Abong. — John Bryan Ulanday