Editor’s Note: Every week, SPIN.ph will pick the five best performers per position in the ongoing UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.
NOW, we’re indeed in the homestretch of the season.
Two teams are now out of the running in the Final Four race, which means that the chase for the third and fourth spots are as tight as ever with four more teams still looking to snag those elusive tickets.
With that being said, let’s take a look at this week’s top performers.
Guard: Janrey Pasaol (FEU)
11 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist vs La Salle; 14 points (5/8 FG), 7 rebounds, 6 assists vs Ateneo
Veejay Pre has been superb, but don’t you forget FEU has more capable rookies to show off.
Pasaol certainly isn’t far behind, showcasing the bright future for the Tamaraw backcourt in the late stages of the eliminations.
Steady at the point, the younger brother of UE great Alvin nabbed career-highs in points and rebounds in FEU’s conquest over Ateneo.
And if he continues to play this way, the future may come soon enough in the present that we need not to wait that long to see this FEU juggernaut come to life.
Guard: JC Macalalag (La Salle)
9 points (4/5 FG), 2 rebounds, 2 assists vs FEU; 9 points (4/5 FG), 2 assists, 1 rebound vs UP
Consider this transition as a success.
Moving from a winger to playing the guard positions, Macalalag has done a stellar job in his adjustment and has been a constant contributor for La Salle as evidenced by his decent showings in the past games.
Numbers may still skew to the top guns, but expect the third year swingman out of La Salle Greenhills to be right there among the leaders, guiding the top-seed Green Archers to stay at the top and hopefully, to a back-to-back.
Forward: Nic Cabanero (UST)
27 points (2/5 3PT), 8 rebounds, 1 assist vs UE
Don’t you forget University of Santo Tomas is still Nic Cabanero’s team.
The leader of the Growling Tigers stepped up when it mattered the most, putting the squad on his back in their must win game against University of the East that may have just salvaged their season.
Cabanero’s super scoring abilities has never been in question, but his improved shooting from deep has been a sight to behold that many feel that the fourth-year winger is now pro-ready.
For the UST faithful, they’re probably wishing not just yet.
Forward: Michael Phillips (La Salle)
17 points (8/13 FG), 15 rebounds, 5 steals, 2 assists, 2 blocks vs FEU; 14 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal vs UP
I mean, what did we expect from Motor Mike?
Ever the bundle of energy on the court, he was the catalyst for La Salle’s pair of wins this week as he took cover for an off-shooting Kevin Quiambao.
But that’s not to say that he’s a mere reliever, with his polished offensive game only helping his Mythical Team case with his unquestionable defensive efforts.
No surprise that it earned him another Collegiate Press Corps UAAP Player of the Week citation – his second in this campaign.
Center: Mo Konateh (FEU)
14 points, 27 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 assist, 1 block vs La Salle; 11 points, 21 rebounds, 2 blocks vs Ateneo
At this point, numbers are already expected from Konateh.
But more than the stats, what makes the Gambian a key piece for FEU is how he has commanded the defense as the Morayta crew makes a late surge in the second round.
With Precious Momowei and Mo Tounkara now out of the awards race after their suspensions, it’s apparent now that a spot in the mythical team is Konateh’s to lose.
6th Man: AJ Fransman (Adamson)
18 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal vs NU
This one is probably one of the hotly contested places this season given the number of exceptional games from throughout the league.
But Fransman takes the torch this week after putting up a career-high in points which coincided with keeping Adamson alive in the postseason race.
It’s a big step up for the transferee from Enderun Colleges, but it couldn’t have come at a better time when the Soaring Falcons need it the most.
Still, hats off to the efforts of National University’s PJ Palacielo this week, as well as that of UP’s JD Cagulangan, UE’s Jack Cruz-Dumont, and of course, KQ for putting up strong numbers this week.
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