NCAA Season 93’s Best 7: Week 5

With the collegiate season in full swing, INQUIRER lists the week’s top seven performers in the ongoing NCAA Season 93 men’s basketball tournament. From their game statistics to their overall impact on the outcomes, everything is weighed to come up with the best players from the past week.

Oh, how fast time flies.

We’re past the halfway point of the first round and it seems that Lyceum and San Beda have pulled away from the field.

But beyond them is where the action is, with only a win separating the third and the ninth seeds, showing how important every game is for every team aspiring to be in the Final Four.

But those wins wouldn’t come to be if not for the players themselves, and this is our list of this week’s top performers.

1. Jaycee Marcelino – G, Lyceum Pirates
20 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, 1 block
Last Week: 7

Adamson’s loss is Lyceum’s gain. And Jaycee Marcelino has no qualms on making that fact known.

With the past week his coming out party, the offensive-minded half of the Marcelino twins is proving that he might just be the next great NCAA playmaker, coming out of nowhere to follow the footsteps of stars like Scottie Thompson and Jio Jalalon.

This week, Marcelino hushed the boisterous crowd in EAC with his stupendous showing including the game-sealing steal on Francis Munsayac as the Pirates bucked the absence of coach Topex Robinson to stay unscathed at 7-0.

2. Bong Quinto – F, Letran Knights
14 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists
Last Week: N/A

Known as a gunner throughout his career, Bong Quinto shared that it took time for him giving the steering wheel to Rey Nambatac.

But with this selfless act, the 20-year-old seems to be thriving, as the duos’ trust with each other have helped Letran nab three straight wins to pull it out of the muck and grab solo third place.

As promising as this stretch is, the road is about to get bumpier for the Knights, with San Sebastian and Lyceum next in their schedule.

3. CJ Perez – F, Lyceum Pirates
20 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists
Last Week: 2

A staple of this list from the start, it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that CJ Perez is still flying high in these rankings.

Just as the past weeks, the energetic forward has embraced the team concept coach Topex Robinson has been preaching and seven games in and Lyceum has still yet to fall.

The test, however, will be in this coming week as the Pirates’ discipline will be put to the test with Robinson serving his one-game suspension following his ejection in the EAC win.

4. Rey Nambatac – G, Letran Knights
12 points, 15 rebounds, 3 assists
Last Week: 1

Last week’s top performer took a bit of a bump down the rankings, but that shouldn’t take away his contributions for Letran in its game against Perpetual.

Rey Nambatac did all he could to tow the Knights to the victory, even if that meant crashing the boards against the towering Prince Eze, as he became the engine that made the team work.

Showing the leadership qualities Letran has been looking for since last season, Nambatac has indeed established himself as one of the best young prospects in the amateur ranks today.

But just like Quinto, he and the rest of the Knights will be put into the test this coming week with a tough two-game grind coming up.

5. Donald Tankoua – C, San Beda Red Lions
11 points, 16 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block
Last Week: N/A

Admittedly inconsistent through the first six games, Donald Tankoua has finally had his best game to date for San Beda as he took a page out of his old self in the team’s 66-55 win over Mapua.

With only Christian Bunag challenging him on the inside, the Nigerian center may have just gotten the shot of confidence he needs as the Red Lions gear for the tougher wars ahead.

Couple that with the good showing of young prospects like Clint Doliguez and San Beda may just very well be building up a solid team ready to defend its throne.

6. Juju Bautista – F, EAC Generals
12.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.5 blocks
Last Week: N/A

Sidney Onwubere starred in EAC’s 85-79 win over Arellano, but largely was absent in its home game on Thursday.

Francis Munsayac, meanwhile, corralled a career-best 26 points, but committed the heartbreaking turnover which took the fight out of the Generals in their 97-93 loss to Lyceum.

Despite the up-and-down week, the lone consistent force for coach Ariel Sison has been Juju Bautista, who refused to let his team down in those two close games.

The Fil-Samoan’s role, though, is expected to get bigger with Hamadou Laminou being ruled out of the season after tearing his ACL in his right knee.

7. Michael Calisaan – F, San Sebastian Golden Stags
20 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist
Last Week: 5

Has San Sebastian finally figured things out after a shocking slump early in the season?

It’s still too early to tell, but for Michael Calisaan, this past week’s dominating 101-71 victory over lowly St. Benilde should be a good indication on how far the team can go.

Known as a heady defensive crew, the Golden Stags put their offensive prowess in full display, with Calisaan dominating a stretch in the fourth quarter and racking 12 straight points.

If San Sebastian keeps this up, there shouldn’t be any hitches for it to realize the preseason predictions placed on its head.