Wilmer Ong 2010: Jondan Salvador

I've been a fan of Salvador's since his PBL days where he didn't only outmuscle (or fat) opposing bigs but also used polished skills in the paint to score and grab rebounds. If he were only taller, he would've been what Rico Villanueva once was (sad really) when the ex-Ateneo MVP entered the professional ranks. Sadly, being undersized, injured and playing the same position with teammate Kerby Raymundo (who was on his prime at the time) earned Salvador a spot on the bench.

This year, Gallent has his eyes locked on Salvador as a starter-- with the absence of Raymundo and center Raffi Reavis and the beefy power forward has delivered in close to 27 minutes a game average 7.38 ppg and 8.38 rpg which isn't at all bad considering the league's guard-oriented style of playing.

True enough, Salvador has more than held his own against the taller (ALA's Sonny Thoss and Joe DeVance, MB's Asi Taulava and Marlou Aquino) PBA bigs and even the more versatile ones (TNT's Kelly Williams, SMB's Jay Washington).

But what's really bothersome is Salvador's new-found, bruising style wherein his elbows have become a legit, killing tool on the hardcourt. Okay, that was stretching it a bit, but it's quite clear that he's throwing his weight (and elbows) around a lot more than before and him averaging close to 4 fouls per game (which is a lot considering the fact that he plays only 27 mpg).

Hopefully, Salvador will polish his act while continuing to hold the fort for the revamped/limping Llamados squad until Raymundo and Reavis returns to form.