NCAA: Knights' Jazul is Player of the Week

RJ Jazul was chosen by the NCAA Press Corps as its ANTA Player of the Week following his performance in a 74-71 win by the Letran Knights against the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers last Monday. That win sealed for the Knights a No. 2 seeding and the twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four of Season 83. The NCAA said the 21-year-old Jazul was cited for his the 11 points that he made in the fourth quarter (out of a game total of 19), including a booming triple in the crucial stretch off a broken play that keyed the Knights' ninth win in 12 elimination round games. "I'm happy to be a big help to the team," the soft-spoken Jazul said in Filipino. "I'm thankful to coach Louie (Alas) for believing in what I can do." Jazul, who averaged 16 points, four assists, four rebounds, and two steals in the elims, edged teammate Reymar Gutilban, a rookie transferee out of San Beda, for the ANTA citation. Gutilban scored just 28 points in his first 10 games with the Muralla-based quintet, but he dropped his season-high 20 points on the Bombers to get his first nomination from the media group. It was Jazul who delivered the biggest shots. Hounded by taller, heftier foes, Jazul had to bleed for his points in the first three quarters before finding an opportunity to shine in the final canto, including a back-breaking triple that took the fight out of the Bombers. "I've been saying this all season, he's our main man now and our leader on the court," Alas said. Alas was also the Knights' coach when they won in 1998, 2003 and 2005. - GMANews.TV