MJ Ayaay has pretty much taken a backseat to CJ Perez the whole season but when he was given the opportunity to take responsibility, the veteran forward definitely made it count.
His heroics in the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates’ 94-92 victory over the Arellano University Chiefs was enough for him to be named the Chooks-to-Go/NCAA Press Corps Player of the Week.
With the Pirates’ unbeaten slate in peril after trailing the Chiefs by 13 late in the game, Ayaay conspired with Perez and JC Marcelino to lead a stunning comeback and set-up a thrilling finish.
And with Perez fouling up with two minutes left in the game and the match in the balance, the versatile skipper stepped up to the plate.
Ayaay scored five straight points, including the go-ahead basket with 7.3 seconds left as the Pirates remained unbeaten after 12 games.
For Ayaay, it’s all about belief.
“Nakikinig kami sa isa’t isa. Gusto lang talaga namin manalo. Tambak kami, we just stayed positive parin,” said Ayaay after the match.
“Kahit natatambakan kami lagi ko lang sila minomotivate. Di kami nawawalan ng pag-asa naniniwala kami na sa atin to, kaya natin to.”
The development was obviously a welcome development for coach Topex Robinson as it validated his previous statements that there’s more to this squad than the highly-touted Perez.
“As much as we love having CJ around, this team is more than just a CJ Perez squad,” said Robinson.
“Of course CJ is a very big part of our team, but even he knows that he’s just a part of the team and that we can without him.”
With Ayaay snagging the weekly individual plum, it marks the second straight week that a Pirate won the award after Perez took it last week.
Fellow Pirate Jaycee Marcelino, San Beda’s Javee Mocon, College of St. Benilde’s Edward Dixon, and JRU’s Teytey Teodoro were the close runners-up for the weekly honor feted by Chooks-to-Go, ang Manok na Masarap Kahit Walang Sauce, and scribes covering the beat.
