Collins Akowe of National University-Nazareth School in action in the UAAP Season 87 boys' basketball tournament. UAAP MediaMANILA -- For the second straight season, Collins Akowe of National University-Nazareth School has established himself as the top player in UAAP boys' basketball. 

The 6-foot-10 Cameroonian is on pace to claim back-to-back Most Valuable Player (MVP) crowns, after leading the statistical race in the first round of the Season 87 tournament with impressive 108.143 statistical points (SPs).

The Grade 12 big man is averaging 21.14 points, 18.43 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 0.57 steals, and 1.86 blocks per game for the unbeaten Bullpups.

READ: NU-Nazareth blasts Adamson for 1st round sweep of boys' hoops

A distant second in the rankings is FEU-Diliman's Cabs Cabonilas, with 90.429 SPs. Cabonilas, a 6-foot-4, 18-year-old winger, has been key for the Baby Tamaraws, averaging 16.57 points, 11.43 rebounds, 4.43 assists, and 2.29 steals per game.

Completing the top three is UST's Senegalese forward Racine Kane, who has racked up 89.429 SPs behind averages of 17.43 points, 11.57 rebounds, 1.71 assists, 2.86 steals, and 1.86 blocks per game.

De La Salle Zobel's Kieffer Alas, a member of last season's Mythical Team, sits in fourth place with 87.143 SPs, while Adamson's Grade 11 floor general Mark Esperanza rounds out the top five with 85.143 SPs.

Alas has been a consistent scorer for the Junior Archers, averaging 19.0 points, 11.14 rebounds, and 4.57 assists per game, while Esperanza has dazzled with 17.43 points, 7.0 assists, 5.43 rebounds, and 2.14 steals per game.

Ateneo's Chris Urbina lands at sixth with 68.0 SPs, putting up 13.71 points, 7.14 assists, and 1.57 steals per game.

Completing the top 10 are FEU-Diliman's Marc Burgos (65.143 SPs), UST's Kirk Canete (61.571), Adamson's Earl Medina (61.143), and UPIS's Ethan Egea (60.143).

In the girls' division, Zhaydhen Rosano of NUNS has emerged as the frontrunner to cop the MVP tiara.

Zhaydhen Rosano of National University-Nazareth School in action in the UAAP Season 87 girls' basketball tournament. UAAP Media

Rosano, a 16-year-old forward from Cebu, accumulated an impressive 113.0 statistical points (SPs), averaging 18.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 8.0 steals per game.

READ: NUNS overwhelms Ateneo by 94 points in UAAP girls basketball

Hot on Rosano's heels is UST's Barby Dajao, who ranks second with 105.667 SPs.

Dajao, a 19-year-old guard from Bacolod City, has been a dominant presence, averaging 15.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 5.7 steals per game.

La Salle's Erica De Luna is third in the MVP race with 100.0 SPs, thanks to her league-leading scoring.

De Luna, an 18-year-old guard, has averaged 23.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 6.0 steals per game.

In fourth place is UST's Rhiane Perez, who had 21 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals for 98.0 SPs in her lone outing.

UAAP rules state that a student-athlete must play in 70-percent of the games to qualify for a post-season award.

NU's Aubrey Lapasaran rounds out the top five with 92.333 SPs. Over three games, Lapasaran has averaged 21.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 4.0 steals.

UST's Jannah Wenceslao sits at sixth with 68.0 SPs.