La Salle's JV Casio is UAAP Player of the Week

De La Salle University's JV Casio was selected by the UAAP (University Athletic Association of the Philippines) Press Corps ANTA Player of the Week. "He (Casio) does not want to run away from crucial situations. He wants to take the big shots," said La Salle coach Franz Pumaren of Casio in a statement Tuesday from the UAAP Press Corps. Casio averaged 17.5 points built on a 52% two-point shooting clip this week to lead the Green Archers to a 4-2 mark for a share of second place with Ateneo. The 5-foot-10 Casio emerged as hero in the Archers' overtime win, 90-86, against defending champions University of Santo Tomas last Sunday to halt their two-game slide. Casio contributed 14 points, including six in the extra period and the game-tying lay-up with 2.6 second left in regulation. A streaky shooter, Casio also gave the Green Archers a fighting chance last Thursday by firing 15 of his 21 points in the fourth period, before bowing to rival Blue Eagles, 80-77, in overtime. James Martinez of the undefeated University of the East also earned a nomination for the ANTA-backed citation given by sportswriters from the country's leading broadsheets and tabloids. Martinez propelled the Red Warriors to the solo lead with a 5-0 mark after scoring 23 points on a 6-of-7 shooting clip from three-point range for a 97-66 trouncing of winless University of the Philippines. UST's Francis Allera won the honor last week, while UE's Kelvin Gregorio, Ateneo's Ford Arao and National University's Joseph Lingao-Lingao were the previous weeks' winners. - GMANews.TV