Romulo Marata, who lit up the Volunteers (2-1) with 30 points in Saturday’s giant upset, is expected to brandish the same form along with fellow veterans Genesis Sasuman and Glen Peter Yap in the Eagles’ bid to improve their 2-2 record.
Meanwhile, it’s a tie between Romel Adducul of the comebacking Osaka-Pangasinan Waves and Egay Echavez of Cebuana Lhuillier Gems for the weekly citation given by the members of the MBA Press Corps as Hardcourt Hero in the second week of action.
Following their 99-109 opening-day setback at the hands of current league leader Cebu Gems, the 6-foot-6 Adducul, with support from Fil-Am teammate Chris Clay, powered the Waves to two consecutive victories, the latest over the hard-fighting Pampanga Stars last Sunday, 92-90, at their homecourt in San Fabian, Pangasinan.
The 2000 MVP awardee led the Waves with a double-double of 27 points and 15 rebounds in clobbering the Cagayan de Oro Amigos, 107-97, Thursday and had another double-double of 26 points and 10 rebounds for a back-to-back home win to earn the recognition.
The 5-foot-8 Echavez shared the limelight after leading the Gems to their third straight win and the solo lead against the Amigos in last Sunday’s opening match in Pangasinan.