INQUIRER Sports

PLAYING SECOND fiddle to compatriot Joe Etame in the first three games of the season, Cameroonian John Nchotu Njei turned his game up a notch Friday to help ensure that the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers keep their winning run going in the 86th NCAA men?s basketball tournament.

Averaging just three points per game in the first three games, Njei stood out with a solid all-around effort of 10 points, seven assists, six rebounds, two steals and two blocks as JRU blasted University of Perpetual Help, 78-62.

Njei?s performance came as Etame, instrumental in JRU?s first two wins, struggled with his shots, finished with just two points in nine minutes.

With the league rules allowing just one foreigner on the court at a time, Etame and Njei have to share their minutes.

?Njei was playing really well on both ends of the court,? said Heavy Bombers mentor Vergel Meneses.

Njei was named the Accel FilOil NCAA Press Corps Player of the Week.