Hugnatan, Cardona share PBA weekly honors

Alaska power forward Reynel Hugnatan and Talk ‘N Text shooting guard Mark Cardona share one thing in common after week two of the KFC-Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup.

They are both determined to help their respective teams win that is why they are named the KFC/Accel-PBA Press Corps’ co-players of the week for the period of Oct. 19 to 25. During that one-week span, the Aces and Tropang Texters each won two straight games to keep their records clean and remain as the top two teams in the Philippine Cup standings. This early, Hugnatan and Cardona have been instrumental in their respective teams’ bid duplicate their Philippine Cup championship series last season which the Texters won in seven games. The burly 6-foot-4 Hugnatan terrorized his opponents inside the paint where he logged in numbers of 17 points, six rebounds and three assists in the Aces’ last two wins. Cardona, meanwhile, used an array of moves in registering per game averages of 20.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals. “We've made a concerted effort to get Reynel the ball in the post and it is paying off," said Alaska coach Tim Cone of his prized forward, who scored 14 points and grabbed four rebounds in the Aces’ 100-79 win over the Coca-Cola Tigers last Friday then followed that up with a 20 and eight performance in a 105-96 triumph over the Barangay Ginebra Kings on Sunday. “His post work and versatility is a real match-up nightmare for other teams," added Cone. Texters coach Chot Reyes has nothing but praises for Cardona, who combined for 41 points in TNT’s last two wins – a 103-70 demolition of Smart Gilas and a 100-83 decision against Sta. Lucia. Reyes said Cardona is showing signs of maturity compared to his early years in the league. “I think for the first time since he came to the league he's not in the top 10 in turnovers. And he gets his points now with fewer shots," he added, “signs of his gaining maturity as a player." – GMANews.TV