Shawn Umali flexed his might early in the NCAA Season 99 men's basketball tournament, steering Lyceum of the Philippines University to a red-hot 3-0 start highlighted by twin victories over last season's finalists.
Against Season 98 runner-up Benilde on the opening day, the 6-foot-3 big man dropped 14 points, capped by two game-sealing free throws, alongside six rebounds and two assists as the Pirates stunned the Blazers.
He then tallied 15 markers, three boards, two blocks, one dime, and one steal in Lyceum's 70-69 escape of defending champion Letran before contributing a solid seven-point, eight-rebound outing to help his Pirates take a 76-73 win against Perpetual.
Umali finished the week with averages of 12.0 points and 5.67 rebounds in a strong first week of NCAA action.
These performances earned Umali this year's first Collegiate Press Corps NCAA Player of the Week citation for Season 99.
Umali edged out EAC's JP Maguliano, Agem Miranda of JRU, San Beda's Jacob Cortez, and Clint Escamis of Mapua for the weekly award presented by the San Miguel Corporation and backed by minor sponsor Discovery Suites.
For Umali, it's just about getting ready whenever his number is called up in the big moments by head coach Gilbert Malabanan.
"For me, I just do my best to help my team. The score, I don't really look at that," said Umali in Filipino.
"I just think about how the whole team can win."
While Umali continues to prove his worth for Lyceum, Malabanan said he expects new heroes will shine every game as the Pirates aim to surpass last season's Final Four finish.
"I have been saying this since last season: my team is unpredictable. You won't know who will explode for us," Malabanan said.
—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA Integrated News
