NCAA Season 93’s Best 7: Week 10

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.

Rain once again wiped away one NCAA gameday this past week, but fortunately for hoop fans, action resumed right away.

And with the sun shining, all 10 teams got a piece of the action as the race to the Final Four just gets tougher and tougher.

Lyceum averted disaster, San Beda and San Sebastian fought a tough battle in a potential Final Four preview, and College of St. Benilde played to its full potential and to possibly play a possible spoiler for semifinal-dreaming squads.

But again, the games are won and lost by heroes and these are the best players of the past week.

(1) MJ Ayaay – F, Lyceum Pirates

20 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals

Last Week: N/A

MJ Ayaay. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Coach Topex Robinson has been stressing it all season that Lyceum is more than just a CJ Perez team.

And this past week, the man the Pirates refer to as their glue guy stepped forward and came through.

MJ Ayaay came up big for Lyceum, dropping 13 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter to help his team rally from 13 points down and preserve its immaculate 12-0 slate with a 94-92 win over Arellano.

Though Ayaay’s contributions isn’t surprising, the bigger picture here is the affirmation of what makes the Pirates a deadly team: that anyone can step up at any given day.

(2) Javee Mocon – F, San Beda Red Lions

17 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks

Last Week: 3

Javee Mocon. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

With San Beda engaged in a tight battle against San Sebastian, it was Javee Mocon who stabilized the fort for the Red Lions.

Dropping yet another double-double performance, the hardworking forward’s efforts kept the Red Lions’ winning streak alive and extend it to 10 after pulling off a 76-65 win over the Golden Stags.

Robert Bolick may be the undoubtful leader of San Beda, but it also has Mocon to rely on in endgames.

(3) Jerome Garcia – F, EAC Generals

27 points (6/12 3PT), 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal

Last Week: N/A

Jerome Garcia. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Emilio Aguinaldo College just can’t catch a break.

After Hamadou Laminou tore his ACL, it was starting forward Juju Bautista who went down with a shoulder injury.

Luckily for EAC, Jerome Garcia went on a blaze against Mapua, drilling six treys on his way to a career-high 27 points and help the Generals take an 85-72 victory.

Odds may not be on EAC’s favor, but with players like Garcia stepping up, the Generals’ Final Four dreams remain alive.

(4) Edward Dixon – F, St. Benilde Blazers

21 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals

Last Week: N/A

Edward Dixon. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

What a way to silence St. Benilde’s doubters.

After winning the first game due to technicality, the Blazers made sure there won’t be any questions asked this time, taking the convincing 83-55 rout of Perpetual.

Edward Dixon was the one at the forefront of the fight, scattering 21 points and seven rebounds to shut out the Altas and sweep the season series.

More importantly, it kept St. Benilde’s flickering hopes of making it to the Final Four after proving that it is capable of pulling off upsets like these.

(5) Tey Teodoro – G, JRU Heavy Bombers

15 points (2/6 3PT), 3 rebounds, 3 assists

Last Week: 7

Tey Teodoro. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

It may not be a stellar shooting night for Tey Teodoro, but he did enough for Jose Rizal University to eke out the 77-68 win over Letran.

Leading the balanced attack for the Heavy Bombers, Teodoro’s decent showing did the trick as they swept their season series with the Knights, and more importantly, tighten their grip of the third place with a 7-4 card.

JRU needs to claim more of these tight wins against its fellow middle-ranked teams if it wants to go smooth-sailing to the semifinals again. 

(6) Kent Salado – G, Arellano Chiefs

24 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists

Last Week: 6

Kent Salado. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Arellano guard Kent Salado was on his way to being the biggest villain for Lyceum.

Seeking to put the first dent in the Pirates’ seemingly impenetrable shield, the Chiefs banked on its speedy guard to take a 13-point lead.

But the fourth quarter was an entirely different story, and though Salado still kept the fight going, it was just too much Lyceum, as Arellano’s roller coaster season continues.

Salado’s herculean effort deserved another mention in this list, but his teammates need to step up with the Chiefs (4-7) are in danger of missing the Final Four after settling for a runner-up finish last season.

(7) Michael Calisaan – F, San Sebastian Golden Stags

23 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist

Last Week: 5

Controversy surrounded Michael Calisaan this week after San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez alleged him of being a dirty player, while San Sebastian coach Egay Macaraya was quick to come to his defense.

What’s undeniable, though, is the forward being the catalyst for the Golden Stags this season.

Performances like these are expected from Calisaan, but just like Salado, the supporting cast must deliver, especially for San Sebastian which is just on the outside looking in at the Final Four picture with a 5-6 card.