LETRAN’S Raymond Almazan bagged the top individual plum for the week after the spindly center powered the Knights to a thrilling win in the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup.
The 6-foot-7 Almazan copped the Master Best Player of the Week with his big all-around game of 27 points, 15 rebounds, four blocks, a couple of assists and a steal in the Knights’ recent overtime 96-94 decision over San Sebastian.
Also joining Almazan in the Gatorade Best Five of the Week were University of the East’s Charles Mammie, National University’s Alfred Aroga, San Sebastian’s CJ Perez and Southwestern’s Landry Sanjo, who also won the Gatorade Best Defensive Player for the second straight week.
Meanwhile, the anticipated Ateneo-La Salle showdown has been moved to June 2 at 6:30 p.m. at Mall of Asia Arena.
This year’s first meeting between the two fierce rivals will come after the Blue-Green duel, the PBA exhibition match pitting the alumni of both schools who are currently playing in the pro league.
Ateneo (6-1) and La Salle (4-0) pace Group B of the summer tournament, while National University (7-0) leads Group A.
The Bulldogs, bannered by Ray Parks and Cameroonian rookie Alfred Aroga, earned a quarterfinal berth after downing Arellano, 86-71, last Saturday.
Led by Kiefer Ravena, the Blue Eagles had also secured a slot in the next round before leaving for their annual training in the United States.
The Green Archers, headed by Jeron Teng, also look poised to advance as they stand as the only other unbeaten squad.
But the Archers again have to do without veteran Yutien Andrada for the rest of the season after the lanky big man tore his ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) in last week’s games, just two years after sustaining the same injury.