THE BARANGAY Ginebra Kings are on a five-game winning streak, thanks largely to the stellar play of point guard Mike Cortez.
This in turn has led him to be awarded with the PBA Player of the Week award for the period of Dec. 5 to 11 in the ongoing Philippine Cup.
Cortez led the way for the Kings in their wins over Barako Bull and Talk ’N Text that has allowed them to finish with the fourth seed after the elimination round.
Cortez averaged 17.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 blocks in those two victories that helped jack his conference statistics to 10.3 points, 3.6 assists and 3.7 rebounds.
Cortez’s brilliance shone through as it came at the most opportune of times, like when he made two of three three-point attempts and issued four assists in the final quarter to help the Kings peel away from an erstwhile tight game against the Tropang Texters en route to a 96-82 win last Sunday.
Cortez also scattered 11 of his team-high 17 points against the Energy three days before in leading the perennial crowd favorites to an 88-83 win./Correspondent Jonas Panerio