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AFTER a slow start to the Clark bubble, Meralco and Alaska came back to life behind the constant display of a veteran guard and the promise of a rookie big man.
The red-hot Bolts, after a 1-2 start, turned the tide on an undefeated second week by riding the hot hands of Chris Newsome as the Aces leaned on rookie Barkley Eboña to also turn the team’s fortunes from a early 0-2 holes.
Newsome averaged 20.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.5 blocks in an exciting week for the Bolts, who scored big wins over Magnolia and NLEX to climb in the middle of the standings midway through the restart of the Association Philippines Cup. Basketball Association (PBA).
The complete game of the 30-year-old Filipino-American, who scored a jump shot in Meralco’s 109-104 overtime win against the Hotshots, earned him the Cignal TV-PBA Press Corps (PBAPC) Player of the Week. for the period from October 19 to 26. He became the second player to earn the honor inside the bubble after Roger Pogoy of TnT.
Then there’s Eboña, the dynamic forward who broke with averages of 17.33 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.0 block in three games for the Aces, to emerge as PBAPC’s Rookie of the Week.
Both Newsome and Eboña were unanimously voted in favor of the weekly quote given by members of the media covering the PBA beat.
Newsome had 23 points, seven rebounds, six assists and two blocks in Meralco’s win over Magnolia, before following an 18-6-6 stat line in the Bolts’ 101-92 win over NLEX.
The 6-foot-6 Eboña showed a glimpse of its true potential after a week-long break for the Aces, who went 2-1 during that week-long stretch for an even 3-3 record.
Far Eastern University’s No. 4 overall pick, who is being coached by Alaska Rep. And two-time MVP Danny Ildefonso, broke out with a career-best 24 points with a near-perfect 10-for-11 shot. In a 120-82 fugitive from Alaska beating Blackwater, whose coach Nash Racela was Eboña’s college mentor.
Even in Alaska’s 88-92 loss to reigning champion San Miguel, Eboña also made his mark by finishing with 18 points on 9-of-11, five rebounds, a steal and a block in just 21 minutes of play.
Magnolia, meanwhile, is hoping to bring the momentum from his massive 102-92 win over once-undefeated Barangay Ginebra San Miguel when he takes on Blackwater at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the University of Angeles Foundation Gymnasium.
Defending champion San Miguel Beer and Meralco, both with 3-2 win-loss records, collide in the 6:45 pm game.
