Stags' Aquino NCAA's best of week anew

MANILA, Philippines - Jimbo Aquino came through with a clutch effort in a king-size victory over last year’s second placer Jose Rizal last week to nail down his second ACCEL-FilOil NCAA Press Corps Player of the Week plum.

Aquino sizzled with 23 points to power the Stags to a 91-76 rout of the Bombers for their seventh straight win and the solo lead in Season 85 of the NCAA.

Aquino, the 23-year-old pride of Bamban, Tarlac, also outgunned former scoring co-leader John Wilson of Jose Rizal to zoom to the top in the scoring department.

The heroics gained him the nod of the group of sportswriters from the country’s leading broadsheets and tabloids as their week’s best. It was Aquino’s second since emerging the NCAAPC’s first recipient of the weekly honor.

“He’s really our leader, our clutch performer,” said San Sebastian coach Ato Agustin.

Agustin though cautioned Aquino not to be carried away.

“When the crowd is cheering for him, sometimes he gets a little bit carried away, that’s his little problem,” said Agustin.

“I told him that he’s our gunner and he has to control his fouls because the team needs him inside the court, he should adjust and play smart,” he added.

Aquino beat San Beda’s Garvo Lanete and Sudan Daniel, Letran’s RJ Jazul and Wilson to the award.   – Joey Villar