Players of the Week: Gabe Norwood and Larry Rodriguez

GABE Norwood and Larry Rodriguez have consistently come up big of late for Rain
or Shine, fanning the Elasto Painters’ hopes of advancing past the PBA
Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals.
Other Rain or Shine players, like Doug Kramer, Beau Belga, Ryan Arana and Ronjay
Buenafe have also been sources of much-needed boost, but it is the Accel-PBA
Press Corps’ Co-Players of the Week for the period March 4 to 10 who have been
the most steady for coach Yeng Guiao.
“They have shown consistency in our last few games. They work without much
fanfare but contribute in a lot of departments, not just scoring,” noted the
grizzled tactician.
“Gabe has proven effective playing a lot of minutes at point guard. Larry is
undersized at the 4, but his big heart makes up for the lack of size,” added
Guiao.
Indeed, the Fil-Am guard and Manila-born power forward could be depended on to
deliver precisely what Guiao wants from any of his charges and their recent
figures in two games against Barangay Ginebra bear this out.
Starting as game orchestrator, Norwood has averaged 14.5 points, 8.5 rebounds
and 6.5 assists while Rodriguez repeatedly defied his taller and heftier
opponents at the frontline with 18.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists.
There is also efficiency. Norwood has shot 11-of-21 from the field, including
6-for-10 from three-point land, and Rodriguez 17-for-25
The two were at their steadiest in a 113-97 win over the Kings last Sunday, when
they combined for 28 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists and enabled the
Painters to bounce back from a 91-100 loss in the best-of-three series opener
just two days before.
"I appreciate the award, but we are looking at the big prize of getting to the
semifinals," said Norwood. "Everyone is playing well and accepting their roles."
That goal is within Rain or Shine's reach as momentum has now seemingly shifted
to its side going to the deciding match on Wednesday.
Should the Painters make it two in a row, they advance to the semifinals for
only the second time in franchise history.and it is practically a sure bet that
game’s prime barometer will be the performances of Norwood and Rodriguez.PR