Scottie Thompson, Mikey Williams in tight battle as PBA names Season 46 MVP

Scottie Thompson or Mikey Williams could likely get the coveted Most Valuable Player when the PBA fetes the top achievers of the previous season in the Leo Awards slated Sunday, June 5 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Barangay Ginebra San Miguel star and the flashy TNT guard are considered as heavy favorites to nab the prestigious plum during the ceremonies which will be held before the opening of the PBA’s 47th season.

Magnolia’s Calvin Abueva and NorthPort’s Robert Bolick are also candidates to bag the MVP trophy, but consistency and team success perhaps gave Thompson and Williams strong consideration among voters.

Thompson’s performance in the Governors’ Cup where he won Best Player of the Conference and Finals MVP trophies after leading Ginebra to the championship could allow him to take home the season’s best player.

Williams, on the other hand, could make history as only the second player to win both the MVP and Rookie of the Year honors, thanks primarily to his starring role in TNT’s Philippine Cup title run.

All four candidates have strong chances of making it to the Mythical Team selection.

Two backcourt and three frontcourt players will be each named to the First and Second Team.

Also to be named are the winners of the Most Improved Player, Sportsmanship Award and members of Season 46’s All-Defensive Team.

The Leo Awards returns to its old format after last year’s edition was held virtually by honoring the best of the 2020 Philippine Cup bubble.

March 2020 saw the last Leos at the Big Dome, with San Miguel Beer’s June Mar Fajardo, who a month earlier injured his shin, receiving an unprecedented sixth MVP trophy while riding in an electric scooter.