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.
Torrential rains couldn’t stop the NCAA this week that even the oft-postponed triple-header finally pushed through on Friday.
And after it’s said and done, we are left with only two games to wrap up the first round on Tuesday, with last year’s Final Four teams wrapping up their first round assignments.
As for our list, the usual suspects did come back, churning out strong performances as they seek a spot in the annual midseason festivities that is the All-Star Game.
With that being said, here’s our list of the week’s best players.
Sidney Onwubere vs AJ Coronel. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
(1) Sidney Onwubere – F, EAC Generals
21 points, 17 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block
Last Week: N/A
Without Hamadou Laminou to bank on, coach Ariel Sison has made it clear that EAC must double, if not triple, its effort if it wants to progress to the Final Four.
And one of the measures he did was to squeeze out all the minutes Sidney Onwubere could give him.
On Friday, the Fil-Nigerian forward showed that he’s more than ready to the task, leading the Generals to a gutsy 61-57 win over Perpetual to finish the first round and show why he has to be included in the discussions for the MVP plum.
As daunting as the task may be, Onwubere may have to live with the reality that he’s going to need to give everything he has if EAC wants to make it to the last dance.
Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
(2) CJ Perez – F, Lyceum Pirates
18 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
Last Week: N/A
After missing last week’s list, the pacesetter for the MVP plum returned with a bang.
Against cellar-dweller Mapua, the Pirates followed the lead of CJ Perez, with him not only getting it done in the offense but also anchoring the team’s choking defense.
His performance was so steady that even the team’s third stringers got a piece of the action en route to their dominant 97-74 blowout victory.
Perez, though, acknowledges that the season is just getting started and the rest of the league will be out to deal Lyceum its first defeat come the second round.
Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
(3) Levi Dela Cruz – G, Arellano Chiefs
24 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block
Last Week: N/A
With Kent Salado taking a back seat on offense, Levi dela Cruz took the baton and ran with it as he set a career-high performance to help Arellano nab the 87-81 win over St. Benilde.
The 22-year-old transferee has come out of Salado’s shadows to emerge as the key component in helping the Chiefs break out of their four-game losing slump.
If dela Cruz continues this tear, we may just be seeing the start of a possible second coming of Arellano’s lethal guard combo of the past.
Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
(4) Tey Teodoro – G, JRU Heavy Bombers
19 points (4/13 3PT), 3 rebounds
Last Week: N/A
How rude could Tey Teodoro be?
He even went to San Sebastian to remind everybody why he’s one of the deadliest snipers in the league, silencing the home crowd with his three-pointers from the parking lot to help JRU secure the 73-62 victory and extend its winning run to three straight games.
But echoing coach Vergel Meneses, he needs more consistent performance from Teodoro like this one if the Heavy Bombers want to make a late run to the Final Four in the second round.
Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
(5) Lervin Flores – F, Arellano Chiefs
14 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks
Last Week: N/A
Surprising as it was, Lervin Flores makes his first appearance in this list for the season thanks to his steady contributions for Arellano in its skid-busting conquest over St. Benilde.
The veteran forward has finally shown what he’s capable of, commanding the Chiefs’ defense after a woeful start this season.
Coach Jerry Codiñera’s offense will always revolve around Salado, but Flores’ efforts must always be there if last year’s runner-up wants to make it to the semifinals in the long run.
Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
(6) Prince Eze – C, Perpetual Altas
14 points, 20 rebounds, 1 assists, 4 blocks
Last Week: 3
Perpetual may have went on a two-game losing slide to end the first round, but Prince Eze’s contributions shouldn’t be discarded.
The Nigerian remains as a force to be reckoned with down low, keeping the Altas in the game despite losing in the end to EAC.
Eze, however, could not carry the load alone as coach Jimwell Gican needs to challenge his locals, especially Gab Dagangon and GJ Ylagan, to come to Perpetual’s aid if it wants to churn out a late drive in the second round.
Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
(7) Jayson David – F, San Sebastian Golden Stags
18 points (5/8 3PT), 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block
Last Week: N/A
Coach Egay Macaraya’s secret weapon is a secret no more.
Jayson David finally lived up to the hype of his mentor, going bonkers from beyond the arc despite San Sebastian losing to JRU.
What better way for him to explode than on his home floor, where he stepped up for the undermanned Golden Stags, which sorely missed the presence of leader Michael Calisaan.
David, though, has to prove that he’s not a one-game wonder as he needs to sustain this showing once San Sebastian springs back to action in the second round.