Schmidt tops assists, steals departments

Saipan Vegas’ Douglas Schmidt pulls up for a shot during their regular season match against The Game in the 2019 Atkins Kroll Marianas International Basketball League at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Kimberly a. Bautista)

Saipan Vegas’ Douglas Schmidt boosted his bid for the regular season MVP award in the 2019 Atkins Kroll Marianas International Basketball League after ruling two divisions at the conclusion of the elimination round of the inaugural competition.

Schmidt topped the league in assists and steals, making him a strong contender in the MVP race. The statistical points (combined points, rebounds, assists and steals) are part of MIBL’s selection criteria for the regular season MVP. The record of the players’ respective teams, coaches’ votes, and Player of The Game honors after the regular season will also be considered in determining the winner of the coveted individual award.

The Saipan Vegas shooting guard averaged 7.3 assists in the elimination after collecting 58 in eight matches. Schmidt also totaled 50 steals for an average of 7.4 per outing. He played an all-around game for Saipan Vegas, which was undefeated in the regular season, as he averaged 15.8 points (126 total) per match and 7.5 rebounds (60 total).

Joining Schmidt in the Top 5 of the assists leaders were his teammates Coby Santos (5.7 average) and Preston Basa (4.6) and IT&E’s Errol Peredo (4.7), Sean Rabasto (4.4). In the steals department, Schmidt led Caravan’s Sydney Quan (4.8), Santos (4.6), Mystique BBQ’s Jetzen Jandoc (3.9), and Caravan’s Josh Andrew (3.6).

Meanwhile, The Game’s Mak Mintac, TanHoldings’ Michael Torregoza, and Bridge Capital’s Eric Deleon Guerrero topped the league in scoring, rebounds, and blocks, respectively.

Mintac’s 28.9 points per game handed him the scoring champion title, as he prevailed over TanHoldings’ Kerwin Dayao (24.4 average), Caravan’s Ken Viray (22.1), Bridge Capital’s Freddie Pelisamen (22), and Santos (21.9).

In the rebounds department, Torregosa stole the win from long-time leader Alex Standish of Caravan’s. Torregosa averaged 12.9 rebounds in eight games and jumped from third to first after collaring 19 boards in their last match of the season (versus The Game).

Standish dropped to third with his 12.3 average, losing to Jandoc (12.4) in the close battle for second, while Andrew (11.4) and AK Toyota’s Kelvin Fitial (10.6) rounded out the Top 5.

There was also a tight race in the blocks department with Deleon Guerrero narrowly beating The Game’s Jun Fidelino and Jun Javier. Deleon Guerrero registered 10 blocks, while the two The Game players earned nine apiece. Peredo recorded eight blocks, while Quan had 7 to complete the Top 5.