Watching Rain or Shine dismantle TNT in that 107-86 Game 3 victory was something special. I’ve been covering the PBA for over a decade, and you don’t often see a semifinal match swing so decisively in one team’s favor, especially not with the stakes this high. The Coliseum was electric, but what struck me most wasn’t just the final score—it was the sheer dominance and the individual performances that shone through. It’s got everyone, including me, asking the same question: who truly deserves to be this week’s PBA Player of the Week? The conversation is heating up, and after Sunday’s display, I think we have some serious frontrunners.
Let’s talk about that game for a moment. A 21-point margin against a TNT squad that, let’s be honest, was visibly depleted, speaks volumes about Rain or Shine’s preparation and execution. I remember thinking midway through the third quarter that TNT just didn’t have the legs to keep up. Rain or Shine shot the ball exceptionally well, moved it with purpose, and most importantly, they had players step up in moments where the game could have tilted back. From my seat, it felt like a statement win, the kind that doesn’t just tie a series but can shift the entire momentum. And in my experience, when a team delivers a performance like that, the Player of the Week award often follows one of its key contributors.
Now, I have my personal favorite, and I won’t hide it. Watching Beau Belga operate in the paint was a masterclass. He finished with 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists—those are solid numbers, but they don’t fully capture his impact. His decision-making in the high post, the way he found cutters, and his physicality inside set the tone early. I’ve always believed that big men who can facilitate are worth their weight in gold, and Belga demonstrated exactly why. He wasn’t just scoring; he was orchestrating. For me, that kind of all-around contribution from a center is what separates a good performance from a POTW-caliber one.
But let’s not overlook Santi Santillan. The energy he brought off the bench was infectious. He chipped in 16 points and grabbed 7 rebounds, but more than the stats, it was his timing. Every time TNT threatened to make a run, Santillan seemed to be there for a put-back or a crucial defensive stop. I’ve noticed that players who provide that spark, especially in a playoff atmosphere, often garner serious consideration for weekly honors. It’s not always about the star with the most points; sometimes it’s the role player who perfectly executes his job when the lights are brightest. Santillan made a compelling case for himself.
Of course, the context matters. TNT was missing a couple of key pieces, which undoubtedly influenced the flow of the game. Some might argue that this diminishes the value of the individual performances, but I see it differently. Beating any team by over 20 points in a semifinal requires focus and skill, regardless of the opponent’s roster situation. The players from Rain or Shine still had to go out and execute, and they did so spectacularly. In my view, dominating a shorthanded team is what you’re supposed to do if you’re a contender, and the Elasto Painters’ key players did exactly that.
So, who gets my vote? I’m leaning towards Beau Belga. His stat line of 18 points, 9 boards, and 4 dimes is impressive, but it’s the nuance of his game—the screen-setting, the defensive communication, the hockey assists that don’t show up in the box score—that seals it for me. Having watched him develop over the years, this felt like a veteran showcasing his complete arsenal on a big stage. Santillan was phenomenal, no doubt, and there’s a strong argument for him as well, but Belga’s two-way leadership was the engine for Rain or Shine. Ultimately, I believe the award should go to the player who was most instrumental in his team’s most significant win of the week, and for Rain or Shine, that was Belga. It’ll be fascinating to see if the selection committee agrees.
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