jay-washington-willie-miller-player-of-the-week

Photo Credit: PBA.ph

With the San Miguel Beermen‘s two-game win streak last week anchored on monster performances by Jay Washington, I was quite sure that he will be considered as a strong candidate for the Player of the Week honors by the PBA Press Corps.

And that was exactly what happened as he was chosen as co-player of the week for the period of October 13 to 19 together with Willie Miller of the Alaska Aces. Because of this, I was spared of writing for an article for this section. Thank you J-Wash!

Anyway, below is the writeup from PBA.ph website:

MILLER, J-WASH KEY RESPECTIVE TEAMS’ WIN STREAKS
Co-Player of the Week October 13 to 19
Monday, October 20, 2008

TWO-TIME MVP Willie Miller and third-year pro Jay Washington have very few things in common. But the rare similar things they share include doing every thing they can to help their respective teams.

This attitude was shown by the two in the week that was with some spectacular performances, earning for them joint honors as the KFC-Accel PBA Press Corps Co-Players of the Week for the period October 13 to 19.

As is his usual wont, the 5-foot-11 guard was the week’s most consistent, propping Alaska’s surge to a 4-0 win-loss card and undisputed hold of the leadership with averages of 17 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.5 steals in their two games this past week.

“Willie is truly showing the marks of a truly great player,” said Aces coach Tim Cone after Miller’s 21-point, 10-rebound output in a 91-84 victory over Rain or Shine last Sunday.

In a relatively easier 89-83 win over Red Bull last Thursday in which Alaska cruised to the finish, Miller had 13 points, nine rebounds, six assists and a swipe.

“Even though he’s been struggling with his shots, he’s found ways to help the team win,” added Cone. “And, of course, there’s no one better with the ball in his hands down the stretch. He knows how to close out games.”

Miller showed this the most in the game against the upset-conscious Elasto Painters, scoring seven straight points in spearheading the Aces’ decisive final surge from the game’s last deadlock at 78-all.

Washington is of the same mold, already showing as he does some of the stuffs that Miller churns out on an almost regular basis.

But he has another good reason for playing his heart out last Friday against Talk ‘N Text, which dealt him to San Miguel Beer in exchange for the Beermen’s No. 3 pick overall in the Rookie Draft last Sept. 30.

“I’m facing my former team and I was aching to win,” said Washington.

To prove that, Washington came through with 21 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Beermen to an 84-77 win, their third straight that jacked their record to 3-1 and solo second-running spot behind Alaska.

“They shouldn’t have given me up,” said Washington then, when asked of his message to TNT.
San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen said he rather expected the 6-7 forward to outdo himself.

“He played well and it came out naturally. Ganadong-ganado at gigil na gigil sa practice pa lang,” noted Tanquingcen of their new recruit who went into the game averaging 10.7 points and 9.3 rebounds.

It was Washington himself who bailed the Beermen out of trouble after the Tropang Texters rallied from a huge deficit to make a tight game of it.

Washington twice scored on assists from Dondon Hontiveros and the Beermen virtually settled the outcome with an 82-76 spread, time down to 50 seconds. (NCo)

With the way Jay Washington played in the previous games, he will be a marked man tomorrow against the Barangay Ginebra Kings. The good thing is that the new system that Siot is implementing does not rely solely on half-court slow down offense. SMB has now embraced a system anchored on running game, outside shooting, and stingy defense.