NCAA Season 93’s Best 7: Week 6

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 in the outcomes, everything is weighed to come up with the best players from the week that was.

Eight games have already passed, and Lyceum and San Beda continue to run away from the pack.

The others teams, meanwhile, are left to  jostle for position in hopes of gaining a significant advantage come the homestretch of the eliminations.

This week’s list is an interesting one with only one holdover from last week’s rankings.

Here’s INQUIRER’s top seven performers from this past week.

1. Mike Nzeusseu – C, Lyceum Pirates
13 points, 15 rebounds, 3 blocks
Last Week: N/A

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

It’s easy to look at Lyceum as a CJ Perez-centric team.

But on Friday, Mike Nzeusseu reminded every one what makes the Pirates the most dangerous team in all the NCAA.

Facing a Letran squad with a depleted frontline, the Cameroonian big man had a field day in the paint, imposing his presence to help Lyceum survive its toughest test yet and come away with the 75-68 win.

The face that the Pirates came back from a 17-point deficit without coach Topex Robinson at the sidelines is proof enough how disciplined this team is.

That’s why it’s no surprise that Lyceum is still flying high in the standings at 8-0.

2. Ervin Grospe – F, JRU Heavy Bombers
16.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists
Last Week: N/A

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

A couple of wins go a long way, and for JRU, stringing its first winning streak of the tournament means going as high as third place in the penultimate week of the first round.

What makes the Heavy Bombers tick? It’s undoubtedly the stability provided by Ervin Grospe to the squad, earning him praises from coach Vergel Meneses.

But the veteran forward’s task still isn’t over, as JRU faces a tough draw against San Sebastian and Perpetual.

However, if the Heavy Bombers pass this test, it shouldn’t be hard for them to break out of their roller coaster ride of a season, let alone a spot in the Final Four.

3. Prince Eze – C, Perpetual Altas
17.0 points, 19.0 rebounds, 4.0 blocks
Last Week: N/A

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Looking like the dominant Perpetual big men of old, Prince Eze is slowly earning his way among the ranks of his predecessors.

With his consistent double-double showing, the Altas were able to snap out of their two-game losing skid with a 68-59 win over Arellano last Tuesday.

Unfortunately, Perpetual needed more from him and his crew as the team lost to San Beda, 57-53 in its homecourt in an ugly and lowscoring game.

There’s still positive signs, though, and if Eze could keep this up, coupled with the Altas marksmen hitting from their range, the Las Piñas-based crew could fully realize their potential as this season’s giant killers.

4. Rey Nambatac – G, Letran Knights
19.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists
Last Week: 4

FILE PHOTO by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Rey Nambatac was the lone holdover from last week’s list.

Nambatac’s double-double performance helped Letran rack up four straight wins to move up to the top four, but that streak could not topple the mighty Lyceum on Friday, 75-68.

It shouldn’t come as a shock, too, that Nambatac was the focus of the Pirates’ defense, forcing the Knights to finish the first round with a 5-4 card.

Luckily, Letran will have at least two weeks to assess things before gearing up for battle again in the second round.

5. Jed Mendoza – G, JRU Heavy Bombers
13.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.5 steals
Last Week: N/A

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Tey Teodoro may still be far from the playmaker coach Vergel Meneses is envisioning him to be, but Jed Mendoza has come to JRU’s rescue.

The 21-year-old guard has taken the bull by the horn and has made the most of the opportunity given to him by his coach.

Mendoza has been steady for the Heavy Bombers, doing it all to orchestrate the offense for his side, while also being a pesky on-ball defender.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Things are just looking up for this budding JRU star.

6. Renzo Navarro – G, San Sebastian Golden Stags
9.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists (1-1)
Last Week: N/A

Renzo Navarro. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

His numbers may not be as stellar as the others in this list, but Renzo Navarro’s overall impact for San Sebastian has been undeniable late in the first round.

Forging a deadly backcourt combination with senior Ryan Costelo and sniper RK Ilagan, the transferee has seen an uptick in his minutes and he has capitalized on the opportunities.

Navarro’s biggest contributions this week for the Golden Stags was his flurry late in San Sebastian’s 75-73 thriller over EAC on Friday, dropping all five of his points in the final minute to tow his side to the win.

7. Clint Doliguez – F, San Beda Red Lions
11 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
Last Week: N/A

Clint Doliguez. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

It’s tough to pick a standout for San Beda, especially after that barnburner of a win against Perpetual on Thursday.

But we’ll go with Clint Doliguez, who once again found a way to shine despite the overall ugly showing from his teammates.

The 22-year-old has shown signs of potential through the course of the season, and his latest outing is no different.

It may only be a matter of time before Doliguez establishes himself as a reliable rotational player for the Red Lions.