Arellano’s Ongotan earns NCAA Player of the Week honors

T-MC Ongotan turned in stellar outings in the previous three matches for Arellano, averaging 18 points, 3.3 steals, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists to be named the Collegiate Press Corps NCAA Player of the Week.

GMA-7 / NCAA Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — Despite not having the tallest lineup, Arellano University banked on the efforts of T-Mc Ongotan to shine in this week’s NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball tournament.

Ongotan turned in stellar outings in the previous three matches for Arellano, averaging 18 points, 3.3 steals, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists to be named the Collegiate Press Corps NCAA Player of the Week presented by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) from October 13-19.

The Chiefs, backed by Ongotan, secured a 2-1 win-loss record in the last seven days, highlighted by an upset victory against title contender College of Saint Benilde on Sunday.

Despite an 84-73 loss to Emilio Aguinaldo College earlier in the week, the Sorsogon pride went down swinging with his 13-point outing, along with six steals, three rebounds, and three steals.

That loss lit a fire under the Arellano senior as he posted his career-high of 28 points, adding four steals and three rebounds to snap Benilde’s three-game winning streak, 72-67.

“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 with a hurt ankle notwithstanding.

“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,” he added.

In another victory against a hungry Lyceum squad, Ongotan denied the Pirates a trip to the win column as he posted a triple-double performance of 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists— a rare statistical feat in the NCAA.

Ongotan became only the third player in the last three years to post a triple-double, joining John Abis, who also accomplished the accolade in Season 98, and Letran’s Bong Quinto in 2018.

Arellano’s head tactician also lauded the heart and leadership of Ongotan.

“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.