Long before NCAA Season 98 started, players, officials and supporters of College of St. Benilde knew very well they can count on Will Gozum.
Four games into their playoff-hopeful campaign, he hasn’t let them down.
In the first two games, the 6-foot-6 Gozum normed 17.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, and 1.5 assists.
His brilliance did not end there, thus earning the Collegiate Press Corps NCAA Player of the Week presented by the Philippine Sports Commission.
The 23-year-old slotman churned out 16 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, and two blocks to will Benilde to an 81-64 victory over Perpetual in the team’s third game.
He then followed it up with a 23-point and 10-rebound outing against defending champion Letran.
Though the Blazers lost, 75-81, in that game, he still emerged the winner for the award decided upon by print and online scribes regularly covering the oldest collegiate league in the country.
Gozum edged the Letran backcourt duo of Fran Yu and Brent Paraiso, San Beda’s James Kwekuteye, and Lyceum’s Mac Guadaña for the award also being supported by MNL Kingpin, Tinapayan Festival, and Jockey.
“I’m letting them know na I got their back. I’m trying to let them calm whenever nasa pressure moments kami,” said Gozum, a member of last season’s Mythical Team and Best Defensive Team.
“It’s a long season pa and bonus na lang yung (MVP) for me. I want the bigger chip kasi dun, buong team and community masaya.”
