Letran's Larry Muyang named NCAA week's best

MANILA, Philippines — The Letran Knights threw everything, even the kitchen sink, to crash the Lyceum Pirates last Friday.

It even took a controversial shot review on Jaycee Marcelino’s triple at the 40-second mark just so Letran could escape Lyceum by a single point, 80-79. 

Lead Knights Bong Quinto and JP Calvo were completely gassed at the final buzzer, but burly big man Larry Muyang made it look like a walk in the park.

In the face of the Pirates’ imposing anchor Mike Nzeusseu, Muyang bullied his way to a monster double-double of 23 points and 16 rebounds on a near-perfect 11-of-12 shooting to go along with 4 blocks to boot.

It didn’t matter what defensive looks Lyceum was throwing at him. He was just in another zone the moment he made a move in the paint.

For being a juggernaut on both ends of the floor, Muyang is the runaway selection as the Chooks-to-Go Collegiate Press Corps NCAA Player of the Week, making it back-to-back Letranite picks after breakout guard Koy Galvelo.

Still, Muyang deflected credit to the surprise arrival of their good friend and teammate Jerrick Balanza, who cheered for his teammates in live action for the first time since his successful brain surgery.

“Nung una, 'di ko napansin si Jerrick tapos bigla rin nya akong tinawag kanina,” he said. “Tapos parang biglang nabuhayan ako ng dugo kasi sabi nga ni Bong, yung kapatid namin nanonood.”

Muyang edged out teammate Quinto, Perpetual Help’s Prince Eze, EAC’s Jerome Garcia, and San Beda’s Robert Bolick for the weekly award given by print and online scribes covering the beat.

Overall, he is the fifth Letranite to be awarded the weekly citation for this season after Calvo, Quinto, and Galvelo as well as Balanza who was a special awardee after his surgery.