Perpetual Help’s Cyrus Nitura. –NCAA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Cyrus Nitura’s impact on all ends of the floor is one of the biggest factors for Perpetual Help’s second round resurgence in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
Nitura has been the main attraction for the Altas in their four-game winning streak including three victories in the last seven days to earn the Collegiate Press Corps’ Player of the Week honors.
The second-year cager powered Perpetual to huge wins against top teams Lyceum and San Beda as well as cellar dweller Arellano while being active on every aspect of the score sheet.
This week, Nitura provided the numbers for coach Myk Saguiguit with norms of 11.67 points, 9.0 rebounds, 6.67 assists and 3.0 steals per outing.
Surprisingly, though, Nitura had no idea about his numbers, saying that he was more focused on getting the win more than stuffing the stat sheets.
“I really had no idea [about my stats.] I really just keep working,” said Nitura in Filipino.
Saguiguit, meanwhile, was ecstatic not just because of the guard’s efforts but also with the team’s uprising in general, as they now hold an 8-7 card.
“We’re just happy with what we’re all doing here in 99. We’re making a lot of people happy. We’re making the season better because before, only the top four teams are there, competing,” said the top coach.
Nitura prevailed over teammates Jun Roque and Mark Omega, College of St. Benilde’s Will Gozum and Mapua’s Clint Escamis for the weekly honors presented by San Miguel Corporation.