DANNY Seigle is proving that even if he is not yet in full
fighting shape, he is still a cut above the rest.
As a result, the Magnolia forward, playing through pain, was
adjudged as the Accel-Smart PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for April 6-13.
Despite a recurring foot injury, Seigle has been consistently
racking up the numbers, propping the Beverage Masters to back-to-back wins last
week in the Fiesta Conference and an even 2-2 win-loss record overall.
As is his wont, Magnolia coach Siot Tanquingcen refused to
single out one player as the reason for his team’s fight-back from a sorry
start. But he could not help but beam with pleasure at his prized 6-foot-6
forward’s continuing evolvement.
"We keep telling him not to force it, let the flow of the
game come to him and be more patient," said Tanquingcen. "He’s been trying to do
that and we are all seeing his transformation into a well-rounded player."
Seemingly taking those pointers to heart, the 1999 Rookie of
the Year has given up the ball more often, no longer forces his shots and has
more decent percentages than what he’s had in the past.
Consider the numbers Seigle put up in the Beverage Masters’
wins over defending champion Alaska and Talk N Text, among the teams expected to
go deep in the conference. In an 89-81 breakthrough triumph over the Aces last
Friday, Seigle had 18 points, 14 in the second half. He shot 6-of-11 from the
floor, added six rebounds and spiked it with three assists and a steal.
He followed that up with a team-high 18 points on 8-of-14
field shooting, 10 rebounds, two assists and as many steals in a 91-86 victory
over the Phone Pals last Sunday.
Those points were enough to keep Seigle in the company of
Barangay Ginebra’s Mark Caguioa as the only locals to lead their respective
teams in scoring in the import-flavored tournament. And to think he was not even
supposed to see extended minutes on the floor, bothered as he is by a nagging
Achilles tendon injury that needed minor surgery after the Philippine Cup.
Just imagine what Seigle can do for Magnolia once he’s completely healed.
