Villanueva seizes opportunity to shine for SMB

MANILA, Philippines - Jonas Villanueva took the most out of an opportunity to shine when Mike Cortez was sidelined due to an injury, dishing out superb games for San Miguel Beer which earned him the Player of the Week citation from the PBA press corps. Villanueva's career-high 27 markers against Alaska last Wednesday helped the Beermen post a 93-89 win then a 16-point game gave his team a 114-105 triumph over the Burger King last Sunday in the 2009 Motolite-PBA Fiesta Conference. “He has always had the tools, even when we first picked him up. Ngayon nadagdag are 'yung opportunity and confidence," explained San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen regarding Villanueva. Villanueva, who suited up for Far Eastern U in the UAAP, was the ninth overall pick during the 2007 draft but had to wait for the right opportunity to make his presence felt because of the veterans playing for San Miguel in the point guard position. But when the opportunity came, he grabbed it and made sure that Tanquingcen will take notice. “He's showing a lot of maturity in his game. The experience this past All-Filipino Conference made him tougher both physically and more importantly, mentally," the Beermen coach said. More importantly for the Beermen, the games of Villanueva that gave them those victories led them to tie for the leadership with also unbeaten Purefoods. –GMANews.Tv