Menk , Meneses PBA’s marvelous duo

Superhuman is what best describes Erik Menk’s effort to snap Ginebra’s three-game losing streak.

As for Vergel Meneses’ performance in fanning FedEx’s amazing run, super would do just fine.

The two players, representing a crossbreed of generations, have been at the center of the spotlight for their contributions to their teams’ causes in the current Samsung Philippine Basketball Association All-Filipino Cup.

And rightfully, they have been named Samsung Co-Players of the Week for the stretch of March 17 to 23. Meneses and Menk became the first players to share the weekly citation this year, while Meneses became the season’s first two-time and back-to-back winner. And deservingly so.

Menk, dubbed Major Pain, drilled a three-pointer each to end regulation and the first overtime as he played 47 minutes and wound up with import like numbers — 45 points and 18 rebounds — to propel Ginebra to a 122-117 win over Talk ‘n Text that arrested a three-game slide.

In the first overtime, as Menk came off the timeout with his team trailing by three and with eight seconds to play, Talk ‘n Text center Asi Taulava whispered to Menk: "Don’t do that again," referring to the first triple Menk canned to send the game into an extra period. "I’m a stubborn guy," Menk said. And he proved it by making the triple that knotted the game at 110-all.

"My mom watched me play against San Miguel and she said I was being too tight and too intense. She said I should just relax and have fun out there and that’s what I did. It was tiring, but it was fun," said Menk.

If that was only fun, the rest of the league ought to beware.

Meneses, on the other hand, had a personal season-high 30 points as the Express beat Shell, 98-92, as he also dished off eight feeds, also his best this year.

Then, as if to prove that he was here to dominate the airspace again, the Aerial Voyager pumped in 16 points as he helped FedEx to an 85-72 over defending champion Coca-Cola. "Medyo kundisyon lang ako at maganda ang pakiramdam sa opensa. Pero ang key pa rin, total team effort. Yung contributions ng teammates ko ang nagpapadali sa trabaho ko," said

Meneses. The Express have now won four straight, and the team’s success all dates back to the day when coach Derrick Pumaren pulled Meneses aside for a short talk. "I told him he’s got to be out there to lead the team. I told him I needed him to take charge and that is what he’s been doing," said Pumaren.

Clearly, the two superstars have shaken up the league big time. And it is up to the rest of the pack to catch up and restore order before Menk and Meneses lead their teams all the way and leave everyone biting dust.