MANILA, Philippines – Finishing the eliminations on top for the past decade, San Beda gave itself another shot of extending that streak to 11 after beating contenders Perpetual and Arellano this past week.
And coach Jamike Jarin has Javee Mocon to thank for, as the 21-year-old consistently performed in those games, which also secured the Red Lions a twice-to-beat advantage in the NCAA Season 92 Final Four.
"I just don't want to lose this game. I just played my heart out. I did everything I can to contribute to our win," said Mocon.
Averaging 16.5 points and 14.0 rebounds in those two outings, the 6-foot-3 Mocon was named as the ACCEL Quantum/3XVI-NCAA Press Corps Player of the Week for the period of September 17-23.
Mocon tallied a double-double of 14 points and 13 rebounds in San Beda's 84-75 win over Perpetual on Tuesday and followed it up with a 19-point, 15-rebound performance in its 91-81 trouncing of Arellano last Friday, with his biggest plays coming in the endgame where he staved off the Chiefs' late comeback bid with his clutch baskets.
"It’s Arellano and they’re the barometer," said the third-year forward, as he and the rest of the Red Lions shift their focus on Tuesday in another rematch with the Chiefs, this time with the number one-seed hanging in the balance. "We’re confident, but we're not overconfident. It’s still Arellano and we know they’re going to come back stronger for the next game."
Mocon bested Joseph Eriobu of the third-seeded Mapua, Arellano's Jiovani Jalalon, Letran's JP Calvo, and Clement Leutcheu of St. Benilde, which got its first win in its last game of the season, for the weekly citation.