Blackwater rookie Ato Ular during a game against Terrafirma in the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup. PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines–Blackwater’s early success in this PBA season is largely due to the steady play of its rookie Ato Ular.
Ular has been a huge revelation for the Bossing, who have won four out of their five games so far in the 2022 Philippine Cup.
A second-round pick, Ular may just be the biggest steal of the draft averaging 14.4 points on 57 percent shooting from the field and 7.2 rebounds.
He played his best game yet on Thursday, helping Blackwater stun Meralco, 90-89, delivering 19 points and 15 rebounds.
Ular also hit the game-tying basket with under a minute left that paved the way for Baser Amer’s last-second winner.
His performance certainly didn’t go unnoticed as he was named Cignal Play-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week.
“I already prepare hard every game. I always arrive on the court very early, shooting and working out. I always see to it that I’m ready,” Ular said in Filipino.
The 6-foot-4 forward out of Letran is the first rookie to receive Player of the Week honor this season.
Ular edged TNT’s Mikey Williams, San Miguel Beer’s CJ Perez and other candidates for the weekly citation.