Caguioa nabs Player of the Week honors

Caguioa nabs Player of the Week honors


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MANILA, Philippines – Barangay Ginebra’s spitfire guard Mark “The Spark” Caguioa is the PBA Player of the Week for the period of July 2 to 8 after towing the Kings to victory over the Petron Blaze Boosters in the semi-finals of the PBA Governors Cup.

Caguioa scored a game-high 25 points on top of six assists and six rebounds in the Kings’ nail-biting 87-85 victory over Petron last Sunday to stoke their bid in the semi-finals.

In their first game of the semi-finals against the Meralco Bolts, Caguioa only had 10 points, but came up big against the Boosters after being inspired by the PBA’s Living Legend, Robert Jaworksi, who had his number 7 jersey retired before the game.

Ginebra head coach Siot Tanquingcen praised Caguioa’s improved game, attributing it to a more “mature” mindset.

“He is more mature now,” Tanquingcen told PBA.ph. “He is still the scorer that he was when he started out in this league. But now he is finding the other ways to help his team, be it scoring, passing or even rebounding.”

It was import Cedric Bozeman who scored the game-winner against Petron, but only after the Boosters put their own import, Marcus Faison, on Caguioa to deny him the ball at the crucial moment of the contest.

But Tanquingcen told PBA.ph that he is certain Caguioa would have risen to the occasion if he had gotten the ball in the final seconds.

“Mark has always been a winner. He is willing to take the risk and it usually pays off. Bihira ang mga players na ganoon, and that’s what sets him apart from other good players,” the coach said.

Ginebra now has a 7-4 record, just half a game behind the B-Meg Llamados for second place. If Ginebra wins two more games, the Kings are assured of at least a play-off for a Finals slot.

PBA-ONLINE