T-Mc Ongotan stood above the rest this week, earning NCAA Player of the Week honors after delivering a string of standout performances to lead Arellano University to a pair of victories in three games.
In a span of seven days, the 5-foot-9 guard was able to erupt with a triple-double and a career-high outing that saw the Chiefs dominate Lyceum of the Philippines University and upset the well-rested De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.
Ongotan posted 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists to lead a 92-65 win to further add to the woes of the winless Pirates last Tuesday before his 13 markers, three boards, three dimes, and six steals went for naught as Arellano fell to Emilio Aguinaldo College with an 84-73 loss.
But Ongotan and the Chiefs bounced back the best way as he churned out a career-high 28 points to fuel a 72-67 upset win over the streaking Blazers. He also grabbed three rebounds and four steals.
Ongotan turned in stellar averages with 18 points, 3.3 steals, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists to earn the Collegiate Press Corps NCAA Player of the Week presented by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) from October 13 to 19.
“Every game [approach ko na] wala nang bukas, every game gusto ko ibigay best ko, hindi ko na iinda ‘yung katawan ko, basta gagawin ko lahat para manalo,” Ongotan said after posting his career-high against Benilde despite a hurt ankle.
“Last game talo kami, tapos nagkagulo pa kami, after game nag away pa kami at hindi kami nagkakaintindihan. Kaya ang sabi namin every game kailangan manalo, kaya kaming mga teammates ko at ako, mas lalong nangigigil at gutom sa panalo."
Ongotan became only the third player in the last three years to post a triple-double, joining Perpetual forward John Abis, who also accomplished the accolade in Season 98, and Letran’s Bong Quinto in 2018.
“Siya ‘yung kumakausap sa teammates niya. Feeling naman niya na hindi ko kaya lahat, na kailangan team tayo, na family tayo. Kailangan mag laro tayo as a team, and as a whole, ayun nag-translate naman,” he said.
From a 1-2 record in the opening week of the NCAA, the Chiefs improved to a 3-3 standing in Group A, behind pool leaders Perpetual (5-1), and Mapua (3-2).
Ongotan edged out San Beda’s Janti Miller, Letran’s Titing Manalili, Perpetual Help’s John Abis, and EAC’s Wilmar Oftana for the citation supported by minor sponsors Discovery Suites and Buffalo Wings N’ Things, voted upon and deliberated by print and online scribes covering the collegiate sports beat.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
