Caguioa gains week's honors

MANILA, Philippines - Mark Caguioa’s growth as a player has been clearly evident in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup and Barangay Ginebra is all the better because of it.

With the man primarily known before as a scorer now fully evolved into a team man as well, the Kings have sustained their rise to near the top of the standings and in a very good position to clinch one of the six playoff spots up for grabs in the mid-season tourney.

Nobody has a clearer view of what the Accel-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for the period March 14 to 20 has recently done than Ginebra coach Jong Uichico.

“He has been a great transformation player, from a scorer to a playmaker who can score. That’s evolution in terms of basketball,” noted Uichico of the man instrumental in stoking their winning streak to three.

In the Kings’ 99-86 victory over Air21 followed by a 106-94 triumph over San Miguel Beer, Caguioa averaged 15.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals while coming off the bench each time.

What made the man nicknamed “The Spark” earn the scribes’ nod over Powerade’s Gary David was Caguioa’s ability to still ignite – and even stoke – whatever run Ginebra may need, like in the game against SMB last Sunday.

Caguioa picked up from where Nate Brumfield left off by scoring 10 straight points as he single-handedly put away what had been a 96-91 game.

Caguioa seems to be enjoying more his reliever’s role, a job he has had their last five games, as he also had 14 points and six rebounds against Air21 last Wednesday.

Those back-to-back victories and three-game streak put Ginebra at 4-2 and in a tie for third-running spot with Alaska behind unbeaten leader Smart-Gilas and Talk N Text (5-1).

With only three games left in the eliminations, Uichico wants his players to continue bringing their A-game as they continue striving for a top-tier spot.

For sure, Caguioa aims to do just that.