Welcoat's Froilan Baguion is PBA Player of the Week

Froilan Baguion of the Welcoat Dragons was chosen by the PBA Press Corps at its Smart-Accel Player of the Week for the games covering November 5 to 11. The Press Corps justified its decision by saying that for such a little man, Baguion can come up with big plays and that the 5-foot-7 former National U player showed he can come up with an all-around performance. Baguion, from Navotas, totaled just 13 points and 10 assists in Welcoat's first five games, but scored a career-high 20 points to go with 10 feeds to play a major factor in the Dragons' 126-125 overtime win over the Phone Pals. Spicing it all up, he also had four rebounds and committed just one turnover in 37 minutes of action, which was only second in that game to teammate Nic Belasco's 47. Only Welcoat coach Leo Austria was not surprised by Baguion's performance. In fact, Austrial maintained that he had long yearned for such a show from the second of his three point guards. "Matagal ko nang hinihintay 'yung ganu'ng game mula sa kanya dahil alam ko namang kayang-kaya niyang magbigay ng ganu'ng klase ng game," he said. "Kita naman ng lahat na nakikipagbanggaan na siya, hindi lang sa mga katapat niya kundi pati 'yung malalaki kaya lahat ng mga iyon napipikon sa kanya. At tumitira na siya sa mga pick-and-rolls, hindi tulad dati na mas gusto niyang magpasa lang," Austria added. "Ang sabi ko sa kanya, okey 'yung magpasa, pero you also have to shoot para i-respect ka ng guwardiya mo. He followed all the instructions given him." The Dragons have Denver Lopez usually starting, with either Baguion or Donald Dulay as backup. Austria said this has resulted in a healthy competition among the three to step up big-time whenever called upon. Last Sunday was different. "Against Talk N' Text, parang nagkaroon ako ng idea na malamang magbe-break out game siya dahil ganado nga sa practice," Austria said. It was Belasco who emerged as the hero after banking in the buzzer-beating 25-footer, capping a 20-point, 7-rebound game, but it was Baguion who served it up by scattering 14 points in the fourth quarter to rally Welcoat back from a 10-point deficit. - GMANews.TV