SMB’S FUTURE AT THE BACKCOURT EMERGES
Player of the Week Feb. 28 to March 8
Wednesday, 11 March 2009
Source: PBA.PH
WHEN Jonas Villanueva entered the San Miguel Beer organization, he knew he will have to bide his time and play behind the likes of Olsen Racela and Mike Cortez at the point guard spot.
When Cortez got sidelined by an ACL early last season, Villanueva knew the wait will be shorter than expected. He also knew he was ready.
Villanueva showed this the most in the week that was, putting up back-to-back memorable games and helping the Beermen take a share of the lead in the 2009 Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference.
In the process, the 25-year-old Bocaue, Bulacan-born playmaker was voted as the KFC/Accel-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for the extended Feb. 28-March 8 opening period.
The former Far Eastern U mainstay, picked at ninth overall in the 2007 Rookie Draft, surely earned it by displaying a relatively surprising, quick way in which he adjusted after being eased into the starting point guard role in the season-ending tournament.
“He has always had the tools, even when we first picked him up. Ngayon nadagdag are 'yung opportunity and confidence,” explained San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen.
Villanueva has so far proven the trust in him was well-founded.
First, he played like the import the Beermen did not have in notching a career-high 27 points in a 93-89 victory over Alaska last March 1, before coming back with a 16-point performance in a 114-105 win over erstwhile unbeaten Burger King a week later.
In those two games, the 6-foot Villanueva attempted 13 shots in each game, making a total of 15, while averaging 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists.
No one expressed more elation on this pleasant turn of events than Tanquingcen.
“He's showing a lot of maturity in his game. The experience this past all-Filipino conference made him tougher both physically and more importantly, mentally,” he said.
Those wins also pushed San Miguel into a tie for the lead with co-unbeaten Purefoods that is led by James Yap, the same man edged out by Villanueva in the voting.
If things go as planned, Cortez is set to make his return midway in the tournament. The Beermen know there's no need to rush.
Not with Villanueva showing he is very capable of holding the fort. (NCo)
When Cortez got sidelined by an ACL early last season, Villanueva knew the wait will be shorter than expected. He also knew he was ready.
Villanueva showed this the most in the week that was, putting up back-to-back memorable games and helping the Beermen take a share of the lead in the 2009 Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference.
In the process, the 25-year-old Bocaue, Bulacan-born playmaker was voted as the KFC/Accel-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for the extended Feb. 28-March 8 opening period.
The former Far Eastern U mainstay, picked at ninth overall in the 2007 Rookie Draft, surely earned it by displaying a relatively surprising, quick way in which he adjusted after being eased into the starting point guard role in the season-ending tournament.
“He has always had the tools, even when we first picked him up. Ngayon nadagdag are 'yung opportunity and confidence,” explained San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen.
Villanueva has so far proven the trust in him was well-founded.
First, he played like the import the Beermen did not have in notching a career-high 27 points in a 93-89 victory over Alaska last March 1, before coming back with a 16-point performance in a 114-105 win over erstwhile unbeaten Burger King a week later.
In those two games, the 6-foot Villanueva attempted 13 shots in each game, making a total of 15, while averaging 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists.
No one expressed more elation on this pleasant turn of events than Tanquingcen.
“He's showing a lot of maturity in his game. The experience this past all-Filipino conference made him tougher both physically and more importantly, mentally,” he said.
Those wins also pushed San Miguel into a tie for the lead with co-unbeaten Purefoods that is led by James Yap, the same man edged out by Villanueva in the voting.
If things go as planned, Cortez is set to make his return midway in the tournament. The Beermen know there's no need to rush.
Not with Villanueva showing he is very capable of holding the fort. (NCo)
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