MANILA, Philippines (PNA) — Standing at 6'7", Fil-American San Miguel Beer’s Jay Washington is one player willing to do everything to help his team.

He may not have been a shiny star on his team before but the week that was, he was alternately shining on both ends of the court in powering the Beermen to back-to-back come-from-behind wins that moved them close to a cherished goal in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

The 29-year-old forward earned for himself the Accel-PBA Press Corps’ Player of the Week honors for the period November 15 to 21, the first time he relieved such a citation in the young season.

He beat out the likes of teammate Arwind Santos and B-MEG Derby Ace’s PJ Simon by virtue of impressive all-around averages of 15.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 1.5 steals and only 1.5 turnovers in 32 minutes in SMB’s wins over fellow favorites Talk N Text and Barangay Ginebra.

For Washington, the statistics were merely fruits of his burning desire to help SMB win the most coveted title in the league.

“So whenever I’m not playing good offensively I try to concentrate on the other areas where I can help the team, especially on the defensive end,” he said.

Case in point was SMB’s 79-78 squeaker of a repeat over Ginebra last Sunday, when the Beermen rallied from an early 10-point deficit.

The top pick overall in the 2005 Draft struggled from the field by making only four of 11 shots. But he more than made up with 12 rebounds, three assists and as many swats.

His tip-in of his own miss in the last 13.4 seconds also pegged what would prove to be the final count.

The performance came on the heels of his 20 points and 11 rebounds in a 93-88 victory over TNT last Wednesday, when he proved vital in a surge from a seven-point second quarter deficit.

It is beating Ginebra in front of a predominantly pro-Kings crowd of more than 14,000 that pleases Washington most.

“Maybe it’s the hype, the crowd, everything like that. They get me all excited,” he said.

He is also thrilled by the prospects now facing SMB, which has improved to a tournament-leading 9-2 win-loss record.

At least one more victory in their last three eliminations games and the Beermen are assured of a top two ranking and a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals. Washington maintains the best is yet to come for SMB.

“I think we’re getting better as a team,” he stated. “Of course, there’s still a long way to go, but I’m sure winning close games in this conference showed a lot about the character of this team."

“We can win under pressure and that says a lot. It will help us in the playoffs when the games really count. These will pull us together more.”

He is also sure to do his part.

“Our task right now is to get everybody on same page,” he maintained. “It doesn’t really matter how many points you get, as long as the team wins.” (PNA)