PBA’s big little man named week’s best

MANILA, Philippines - What he lacks in height, Emman Monfort makes up with his speed and guile, netting him top honors normally reserved for top guns and players who impose their height and heft in a league dominated by big men.

The wily Barako Bull playmaker dished out a pair of big games the past week to help power the Energy Cola to their third straight win in the PBA Governors Cup and a brief share of the lead to earn for himself the Accel-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week honors for the period Aug. 26 to Sept. 1.

In a 104-91 win over Barangay Ginebra last Saturday, the 5-foot-6 Monfort scored a new career-high 25 points, anchored on 5-for-10 three-point shooting, and also had two rebounds, two assists and as many steals in 38 minutes.

What made Monfort’s most recent game more notable was the fact that he did it while playing against Gin Kings LA Tenorio, who in turn scored four points and hauled down seven rebounds and dished off eight assists.

“First, he is a hard worker in practice,” said Barako active consultant Rajko Toroman. “Second, he is showing size is not the most important thing if you are skills-smart. And last, if you have character you can do a lot.

“He is starting to be the player I had expected can make a big impact in the PBA.”

Energy coach Bong Ramos echoed the sentiment that it is simply the 24-year-old Iloilo City native’s blue-collar work ethics bearing fruits.

“Emman is working hard everyday in practice. He invests a lot during our training, that’s why he is playing great right now,” said Ramos. “The system is good for him, too. He embraces it.” 

Glowing commendations indeed for the former Ateneo Blue Eagle tabbed at No. 16 overall in the 2012 draft but missed the Philippine Cup and mid-season Commissioner’s Cup due to injuries.