UE big man Luis Villegas shoots a jumper against UST in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament at Mall of Asia Arena. UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Breakout performances in the UAAP Season 85 men’s and women’s basketball tournaments were the catalysts to much-needed wins in the past week.
After a winless campaign last season, first-year forward Luis Villegas propelled University of the East to back-to-back wins to improve to a 3-2 record for a share of fourth place.
Villegas showed he has a bright future ahead for the Red Warriors with averages of 16.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.5 steals in key wins over La Salle and UST.
Meanwhile, another rookie in Ateneo’s Kacey Dela Rosa also turned heads with a stupendous stat line of 30 points on 10-of-13 shooting, 20 boards, and seven blocks in the Blue Eagles’ 67-61 victory over University of the Philippines in women’s action.
Both Villegas and Dela Rosa were hailed as the Collegiate Press Corps UAAP co-Players of the Week.
“It’s not an easy league to play [in]. Every team is competitive and the physicality is real. It’s a little bit difficult, but I feel like it’s a better transition. For sure, this is a tough league,” said Villegas.
Ateneo’s Kacey Dela Rosa shoots against UP in the UAAP Season 85 women’s basketball tournament. UAAP PHOTO
Dela Rosa is just getting started as well with her coach LA Mumar expecting more top-flight performances from the young center, whom he even likened to an NBA legend.
“First of all, we really expect a lot from Shaq and Kobe. That’s what I call them. They’re really skilled and talented,” said Mumar, referring to Dela Rosa as Hall-of-Famer Shaquille O’Neal while pertaining to his veteran guard Jhazmin Joson as the late great Kobe Bryant.
“I’m very confident with their talent. I think they’re such a deadly 1-2 combo. It gives us a chance every game to win,” he added.
Villegas bested UP’s Carl Tamayo, National University’s Steve Nash Enriquez, and La Salle’s Schonny Winston, while Dela Rosa edged Joson and NU’s Mikka Cacho for the award presented by the Philippine Sports Commission.
In the history of the weekly citations decided and deliberated upon by scribes from print and online regularly covering the league, this is only the third time that two players shared the honor in the UAAP.
The first was NU’s Ria Nabalan and Ateneo’s Ange Kouame in October 2018 followed by Adamson’s Mar Prado and CJ Cansino when he was still with UST the following year. The group also handed out co-Players of the Week honors in the NCAA with San Beda’s Robert Bolick and Letran’s Bong Quinto in August 2018.