NLEX draft pick McAloney getting valuable experience elsewhere

CEBU CITY—His dream of playing in the PBA within reach, big man Will McAloney feels he owes it to Cebu-Casino for helping him inch closer to the next level of his career.

In what could be his final home game in the Chooks To Go MPBL Lakan Season, the 6-foot-5 McAloney showed the way as the Cebuanos came up with a gritty performance to stun General Santos City, 72-66, last Saturday night at Southwestern U-Aznar Coliseum here.

Selected by NLEX 15th overall in the PBA Draft early this month, the former University of San Carlos standout proved his worth, firing 19 points and grabbing 15 rebounds as he joined forces with Raffy Octubre and Kraniel Villoria in Cebu’s blistering finish that flustered the Warriors.

“Playing in the PBA is my dream but I also want to help Cebu make the playoffs,” said McAloney, who was already given a tender offer by NLEX to make sure that he doesn’t become an unrestricted free agent. “I always want to play my heart out for Cebu because the team has also helped me become the player that I am today. I want to make sure I do my job for the team since we are also chasing a playoff spot.”

The win raised Cebu’s record to 10-12 as coach Noy Falcasantos’ squad closed in on the eighth spot in the South division currently occupied by Bicol with a 13-12 slate.

Backed by a boisterous crowd, the Cebuanos rallied from a double digit deficit in the first half. Villoria, the former Arellano U guard, contributed 17 points while Octubre shot all of his 11 in the final period where he also grabbed seven of his nine boards.

The Warriors kept third spot in the South division even after falling to 15-7 in the standings. Nearly lost in the din of Cebu’s impressive win was Bacoor’s 86-63 demolition of a Makati Super Crunch team that missed the services of six key players and coach Cholo Villanueva.

There were conflicting reports on Villanueva’s status with the team as the former La Salle standout said he had already quit from his post after leading the team to a 20-4 record before the loss to the Strikers. Makati owner Paolo Orbeta remained hopeful that the situation with Villanueva is resolved.

“He has his reasons, which I will try to find out, but we only wanted to focus on the game,” Orbeta said.

Villanueva cited the “team’s direction” as the reason for his resignation.

While Makati struggled to deal with internal issues, Gab Banal and the Strikers pounced on the opportunity, with the reigning MVP finishing with 11 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists as Bacoor solidified its hold of second spot in the South division with a 19-5 record. INQ