Fourteen-season PBA veteran John Ferriols of the Taguig Generals and Jayford Rodriguez of the Manila All-Stars were recognized as World Balance Players of the Week in their respective divisions in the Metro League Open basketball tournament for the recent period Oct. 14 to 20.
Ferriols, also the MVP in the MBA’s inaugural season in 1998, starred in the Generals’ twin wins this past week over Marikina and Pateros to help Taguig zoom to the top of the South Division standings with their 4-2 slate and a sure place in the division semifinals of the tournament organized by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and supported by the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
Rodriguez, a second round pick of Rain or Shine in the 2013 PBA Draft but never got to play in the pros, had the biggest impact in the All-Stars’ back-to-back wins over Quezon City and San Juan which enabled Manila to also grabbed leadership in the North Division standings with their league-best 5-1 record in the 10-team tournament which has “mobile app ng bayan” Barangay 143 as presentor, Spalding as the official ball and Team Rebel Sports as official outfitter.
Games resume Tuesday at the Hagonoy Sports Complex in Taguig with Manila, also already assured of a place in the division semis, eyeing a fourth straight win at the expense of winless Las Piñas in the 4 p.m. first game, Quezon City and Valenzuela battling for solo second place in the North Division at 5:30 p.m., and the Generals hosting Parañaque in the 7 p.m. third game and looking to fortify its hold of the South Division lead.