Meralco's Dillinger wins 2nd straight PBA Player of the Week plum

MANILA, Philippines – Meralco wingman Jared Dillinger earned his second straight PBA Press Corps Player of the Week award after dishing out another outstanding effort to lead the Bolts to the Governors’ Cup Finals for the second straight season.

The left-handed Dillinger averaged 14 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists during Meralco’s last two games to complete the Bolts’ three-game sweep of the Star Hotshots in the semifinals.

The 33-year-old Dillinger was also red-hot from the three-point arc as evidenced in the combined 8 triples he registered in Meralco’s last 2 games against Star.

Nicknamed the “Daredevil”, Dillinger was all business last Tuesday in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, firing 18 points after going 6-of-8 from the 3-point territory as Meralco ran away with an easy 98-74 demolition of Star in Game Two.

He then, capped the Bolts’ sweep by banging in 10 points, lacing it with 2 triples, along with 3 rebounds and 2 assists where Meralco escaped, 91-88 in overtime.

Dillinger, who beat teammate Baser Amer along with Ginebra’s LA Tenorio and Greg Slaughter for the weekly citation, said he’s excited to finally get a chance to play in the Finals after missing all of last season’s Governors’ Cup.

“I pulled my hamstring before and had to sit at the sidelines and watch the whole time,” said Dillinger.  “I’ve been kicking myself on the butt for a year and hoping we can make the Finals and finally making it.”

Meralco will be facing defending champion Barangay Ginebra in what is expected to be a highly-charged Governors’ Cup Finals rematch. The best-of-seven championship series starts this Friday in Lucena City.