Player of the Week: Bong Galanza making most of chance with NLEX

NLEX head coach Yeng Guiao has a knack for bringing the best out of his players and Bong Galanza is no exception.

Galanza has been playing his best basketball for the Road Warriors after he spent his first two seasons mostly on Columbian’s bench.

He then opted to play in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League after his contract expired and it was there in the MPBL where he made noise that was loud enough to be heard by NLEX.

Galanza found a home at NLEX, which picked him up last season in the 2018 Governors’ Cup and the former University of the East captain has been rewarding the Road Warriors’ faith in him with his noteworthy performance early in the season.

The 26-year-old Isabela native averaged 16 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.5 steals in NLEX’s back-to-back wins over Alaska and Blackwater to earn the PBA Press Corps Player of the Week.

Galanza had 14 points, three rebounds and three steals to help the Road Warriors rout injury-depleted Alaska, 91-70, on Wednesday before unleashing 18 points, all from beyond-the-arc, in a 122-101 ripping of Blackwater four days later.

Behind Galanza’s hot shooting, NLEX climbed into seventh place with a 4-5 record.

Galanza beat a solid set of Player of the Week candidates led by Ginebra’s Scottie Thompson, TNT’s Roger Pogoy, Rain or Shine rookie Javee Mocon and Ed Daquioag and Phoenix’s Matthew Wright.

NLEX’s playoff bid continues against Barangay Ginebra on Saturday Angeles City, before taking on Magnolia on April 3 to wrap up its elimination round campaign.