E.J. Rowland named regular-season MVP

VEF (Latvia) guard E.J. Rowland has been named 2012/13 VTB United League regular-season MVP. The announcement was made today at an awards ceremony in Moscow. Rowland received his prize from League President Sergey Ivanov and Vasily Titov, First Deputy President and Chairman of VTB Bank Management Board.

Four factors go into determining the regular-season MVP: The fan poll on VTB-League.com, efficiency ratings (an index of a player’s cumulative stats), monthly MVP and symbolic starting five honors, as well as VTB United League and Sport-Express experts’ opinions. E.J. Rowland earned 19 points in the MVP rankings to beat out Lokomotiv-Kuban guard Nicholas Calathes (12 points) and Zalgiris forward Ksistof Lavrinovic (nine points) for the title.

In 18 VTB United League games this season, Rowland averaged 17.1 points, 5.9 assists, 6.1 rebounds, 2.0 steals and a 20.8 efficiency rating. The 30-year-old American led the league in scoring and efficiency rating, while finishing third overall in steals and assists. His play had a significant role in VEF’s breakout season. The team finished fourth in Group B at 11-7 and made the playoffs for the first time. Rowland also earned MVP of the Month honors in November, while making the League’s symbolic starting five in October and November.

Joining Rowland in the regular-season symbolic starting five, as determined by VTB United League and Sport-Express experts, are forwards Viktor Khryapa (CSKA) and Ksistof Lavrinovic (Zalgiris), center Paul Davis (Khimki) and guard Nicholas Calathes (Lokomotiv-Kuban).

How the regular-season MVP was determined

Fan Poll*:
1. Nicholas Calathes (Lokomotiv-Kuban) – 8 points (37% of the vote)
2. Chuck Eidson (UNICS) – 7 points (23%)
3. E.J. Rowland (VEF) – 6 points (16%)
4. Paul Davis (Khimki) – 5 points (9%)
5. Ksistof Lavrinovic (Zalgiris) – 4 points (5%)
6. Aaron Miles (Krasnye Krylia) – 3 points (4%)
7. Darius Songaila (Donetsk) – 2 points (3%)
8. Viktor Khryapa (CSKA) – 1 point (2%)

* - the players were selected by League experts.

Efficiency Rating:
1. E.J. Rowland (VEF) - 5 points (average efficiency rating per game – 20.8)
2. Darius Songaila (Donetsk) – 4 points (19.1)
3. Nicholas Calathes (Lokomotiv-Kuban) – 3 points (17.1)
4. Dijon Thompson (Nizhny Novgorod) – 2 points (17.0)
5. Kyle Landry (Triumph) – 1 point (16.6)

MVP of the Month and Symbolic Starting Fives*:
1. E.J. Rowland (VEF) – 4 points (1 – MVP and 2 – starting five)
2. Ksistof Lavrinovic (Zalgiris) - 3 points (1 – MVP and 1 – starting five);
Viktor Khryapa (CSKA) – 3 points (3 – starting five)
3. Milos Teodosic (CSKA), Zack Wright (Spartak), Mantas Kalnietis (Lokomotiv-Kuban), Darius Songaila (Donetsk) – 2 points (1 – MVP)
4. K.C. Rivers (Khimki), Patrick Beverley (Spartak), Chester Simmons (Krasnye Krylia), Donatas Zavackas (VEF), Loukas Mavrokefalidis (Spartak), Zoran Planinic (Khimki), Nicholas Calathes (Lokomotiv-Kuban), Ian Vougioukas (UNICS), Aaron Miles (Krasnye Krylia), Branco Cvetcovic (Astana), Bamba Fall (Kalev), Kostas Kaimakoglou (UNICS), Mindaugas Kuzminskas (Zalgiris), Paul Davis (Khimki), Sergey Karasev (Triumph), Dijon Thompson (Nizhny Novgorod), Petteri Koponen (Khimki), Chuck Eidson (UNICS) – 1 point (1 – starting five)

* - 2 points are awarded for an MVP honor, 1 point is awarded for being in the symbolic starting five.

VTB United League experts:
1. E.J. Rowland (VEF) – 3 points
2. Ksistof Lavrinovic (Zalgiris) – 2 points
3. Viktor Khryapa (CSKA) – 1 point

Sport-Express experts:
1. Viktor Khryapa (CSKA) – 3 points
2. Paul Davis (Khimki) – 2 points
3. E.J. Rowland (VEF) – 1 point

Final Results:
1. E.J. Rowland (VEF) – 19 points
2. Nicholas Calathes (Lokomotiv-Kuban) – 12 points
3. Ksistof Lavrinovic (Zalgiris) – 9 points
4. Viktor Khryapa (CSKA), Darius Songaila (Donetsk), Chuck Eidson (UNICS), Paul Davis (Khimki) – 8 points
8. Aaron Miles (Krasnye Krylia) – 4 points
9. Dijon Thompson (Nizhny Novgorod) – 3 points
10. Milos Teodosic (CSKA), Zack Wright (Spartak), Mantas Kalnietis (Lokomotiv-Kuban) – 2 points
13. Kyle Landry (Triumph), K.C. Rivers (Khimki), Patrick Beverley (Spartak), Chester Simmons (Krasnye Krylia), Donatas Zavackas (VEF), Loukas Mavrokefalidis (Spartak), Zoran Planinic (Khimki), Ian Vougioukas (UNICS), Branco Cvetcovic (Astana), Bamba Fall (Kalev), Kostas Kaimakoglou (UNICS), Mindaugas Kuzminskas (Zalgiris), Sergey Karasev (Triumph), Petteri Koponen (Khimki), Chuck Eidson (UNIC) – 1 point

- It's been a successful season for my team so far, - says 2012/13 VTB United League regular-season MVP E.J. Rowland. - I'm very happy to win the MVP award. I thank God for giving me the opportunity to play at a high level. I want to say a big thank-you to my coaches and teammates, who have supported me.