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.
TWO weeks in and what was projected still remains true: La Salle and University of the Philippines remain a level above the field.
But it’s not like the ongoing season has been predictable, with Adamson pulling off another big surprise to rock the league.
With that being said, let’s take a look at this week’s top performers.
Guard: JD Cagulangan (UP) – 21 points (5/6 3PT), 7 rebounds, 4 assists vs UE
If there’s still any question who the best point guard in the UAAP is today, Cagulangan just shattered those discussions.
The graduating guard has been in firm control this season, directing traffic for the Fighting Maroons with his exceptional playmaking as they coasted to a 2-0 start.
But what may mean trouble for everyone is his outside shooting, missing all but one of his long bombs in UP’s last game against UE.
Guard: Forthsky Padrigao (UST) – 6 points, 3 assists, 9 assists vs Ateneo; 2 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals vs Adamson
The shooting remains suspect, but what matters for Padrigao is how he’s been able to set up his teammates.
Though he’s not the one putting the ball through the hoop, he has made sure that his fellow Growling Tigers are in their spots to score for the black-and-gold.
That alone earned him his spot here, but if the Adamson game was any indication, he has to find his rhythm sooner rather than later if UST wants to be considered as a legitimate contender this season.
Forward: Kevin Quiambao (La Salle) – 21 points, (4/8 3PT), 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals vs Adamson; 13 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals vs Ateneo
At this point, Quiambao’s position here should already be a given considering how he has continued to be the Green Archers’ rock in this title retention drive.
He ignited the pullaway that allowed La Salle to rout Adamson on Wednesday before putting on a show and going three assists shy of a triple-double in front of the bright lights of the rivalry game that was La Salle-Ateneo which should earn himself the first Collegiate Press Corps UAAP Player of the Week award.
Already the undisputed best collegiate player in the country today, Quiambao believes that there’s still a lot he can improve on. And that spells trouble for the Taft side’s next foes.
READ: KQ keeps improving thanks to Topex's embrace, other coaches' advice
Forward: AJ Fransman (Adamson) – 3 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals vs La Salle; 11 points (3/5 3PT), 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals vs UST
It took time, but Fransman finally had his breakout for Adamson.
The transferee from Enderun Colleges was just happy to do the dirty work for the Soaring Falcons in his first two games.
But when he found his stroke? Boy, was he deadly and UST found about it the hard way.
The ball may not always find his way to Fransman’s hands on offense, but he’ll make sure he’ll make an impact doing the intangibles which will lead to the Soaring Falcons springing more surprises.
Center: Michael Phillips (La Salle) – 0 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals vs Adamson; 13 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals vs Ateneo
Defense has always been the bread and butter for Phillips, and it’s the reason why he has made it a point to improve his offense this season.
The good thing is that despite being more conscious on the offensive end, he has maintained that same grit in defense, gobbling up those rebounds like there’s no tomorrow.
And Ateneo was the victim of the defensive demon’s exploits on Sunday, with the Blue Eagles having no one to match the intensity of the Fil-Am big man.
6th Man: Jake Figueroa (NU) – 8 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals vs FEU
It wasn’t pretty, but at the end of the day, National University got the job done.
Figueroa, as always, was all over the floor for the Bulldogs as he did everything to keep the Bulldogs in the thick of things and avoid the upset axe.
Again, it doesn’t need to be beautiful as long as you get the job done, and it’s exactly what Figueroa is doing for the Jhocson side.
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