A win streak is meant to be stopped. A lurking career-high is inevitable. And history is written to be rewritten times over. Week 2 of #NCAA100 was bound to happen, and it did in sensational fashion.
Here’s what you missed– in case you weren’t able to tune in– from the second week of the NCAA Season 100: Siglo Uno, Inspiring Legacies.
(G15) Letran vs Arellano
Letran won, 86-79. Paolo Javillonar debuted in #NCAA100 with a career high 28 points (8 rebounds, 2 blocks) to lead the Knights to a 7-point comeback against the Chiefs. Coach Allen Ricardo masterfully used a well-adjusted fourth quarter to turn things around and force yet another Arellano meltdown.
(G16) EAC vs San Beda
EAC won, 68-55. In the same breath as the saying “all good things must come to an end,” the EAC Generals’ 15-year misfortune in the hands of the Red Lions is meant to become a relic of the past.
The win was their historic first versus SBU in 28 games since joining the NCAA in 2009, as Harvey Pagsanjan took charge with 14 points and 7 rebounds. Solving the puzzle that was San Beda was impressive enough, blowing them out and leading by as much as 29 was a welcome bonus.
(G17) Perpetual vs CSB
CSB won, 78-51. The Benilde Blazers cruised to a 27-point drubbing of the Perpetual Altas to preserve their spotless record in Season 100. Versatile forward Justine Sanchez, for a second time in a row, was adjudged the best player of the game with 13 points and 8 rebounds.
(G18) JRU vs San Sebastian
JRU won, 90-74. The Heavy Bombers finally found their mark. They won a huge one– their first in #NCAA100– against the determined San Sebastian Stags. Marvin Raymundo exploded for 21 points and 13 rebounds, on top of 3 blocks and 2 assists.
(G19) Arellano vs LPU
LPU won, 90-86. Host school LPU claimed their second consecutive win after a dramatic overtime finish against the Arellano Chiefs. John Barba, clutch as ever, steered the Pirates’ comeback voyage with scoring career high of 25 points, sprinkled with 8 rebounds, and 3 dimes.
(G20) Letran vs Mapuá
Mapua won, 77-62. Putting on a show was the Cardinals to claim their third straight victory in four games at the expense of the Letran Knights. Young gun Chris Hubilla fired 18 points and grabbed 12 boards to win the best player honors, but not without tremendous help from Lawrence Mangubat, Cyrus Cuenco, and Clint Escamis.
(G21) EAC vs Perpetual
Perpetual won, 73-67. Learning from a demoralizing loss, the Altas regained their winning form when they took on the Generals after an all-familiar all-around performance by none other than their super rookie. Mark Gojo Cruz starred with 18 points, 5 rebounds, six assists, two steals, and 3 blocks.
(G22) San Beda vs JRU
San Beda won, 77-60. The Red Lions wasted no time after a devastating loss against the Generals and went straight to redemption when they clashed with the Heavy Bombers. Andrada, Sajonia, Puno, and Payosing all scored in double-digits, but it was Yukien’s total court leadership topped with 10 rebounds and 2 dimes that made the most difference.
(G23) San Sebastian vs Arellano
Arellano won, 87-73. No more end game collapse, declared the Arellano Chiefs. They marched to their first win in #NCAA100 after their rout of the Stags. T-MC Ongotan showed flashes of brilliance with 21 points, 5 rebounds, and five assists, and also got generous contributions from JL Capulong (12 points), Cyril Hernal (12), and Basti Valencia (10).
(G24) CSB vs Letran
Letran won, 71-69. The Knights put an end to the Blazers’ blazing start. Three thunderous threes in the clutch courtesy of Deo Cuajao dealt severe damages as he exploded for 20 points just in the nick of time to help Letran upset the erstwhile lone undefeated team in the NCAA. Jimboy Estrada was bankable all game long, tallying 17 points and 5 rebounds with 3 assists and 2 steals.
TEAM STANDINGS
- 4-1 Benilde Blazers
- 3-1 Mapúa Cardinals
- 3-2 Perpetual Altas
- 3-2 San Beda Red Lions
- 3-2 Letran Knights
- 2-2 LPU Pirates
- 2-3 San Sebastian Stags
- 2-3 EAC Generals
- 1-4 JRU Heavy Bombers
- 1-4 Arellano Chiefs
IMPACT PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
A much-improved Pao Javillonar got off to an impressive start after bagging the NCAA Player of the Week award. In three games in Week 2, he averaged 17.33 points per game while shooting 53% from the field, on top of six rebounds a contest.
He gave the league an early glimpse of his newfound long range abilities, having averaged 2.67 threes a game good for third overall in the whole NCAA. Like when he torched the Arellano Chiefs in his Season 100 debut with a career high 28 points where he shot three of five from beyond the arc.
While his offensive contributions against Benilde were needed, it was effectively defending the mighty Allen Liwag that proved the pivotal impact of his veteran presence. Tasked to defend Liwag for most of the game, he helped limit the former #NCAA100 Player of the Week to a dismal 5 out of 15 shooting.
John Barba has been 'Mr. Consistent' for Coach Gilbert Malabanan and the LPU Pirates. He put up a career-high 25 points to go along with eight rebounds and three assists versus Arellano, embezzled by a personal 5-0 run late in overtime.
Averaging 22.75 points in LPU’s five games so far, Barba currently leads the league in scoring– almost five points more than first runner-up Paeng Are.
Barba has been steadily efficient on offense, norming an impressive 53.23% from the field all the while leading the league in total shots made. To make things even better, the 6’2 forward from Biñan, Laguna is the league’s co-leading three-point shooter, tied with Mapua’s Lawrence Mangubat.
Every game, Mark Gojo Cruz continues to pile reasons why he’s no ordinary rookie. MGC dropped ROTY-sque numbers– 18 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks –during their win against a proud EAC squad that’s coming off their San Beda high.
Even in a losing effort against the Blazers, the ace rookie still top-performed for Coach Olsen Racela with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Just think of a third grader solving foundational algebra problems with relative ease. On his first try.
This 19-year-old rookie is dumping league-ranking numbers just months after his senior high school graduation rights: 16.2 points (6th overall), 6 rebounds (9th), and 2.8 assists (10th).
While Johnsherick ‘Jimboy’ Estrada did not win a single best player honors during the week, he was clearly the one tasked to set the tone for the Knights. He’s shown that he has the killer instincs to perform well under duress.
Jimboy scored 14 and hauled in eight boards against Arellano to complement Pao’s 28-point explosion, and then scattered 17 points and five rebounds to back up Deo Cuajao’s 20 in an upset W against Benilde.
Estrada ranks in the league’s top ten in four major statistical categories: points (4th - 17.2), rebounds (5th - 7.4), assists (9th - 3.2), and blocks (5th - 1.4).
