DEPENDING on one’s point of view, Macmac Cardona could be easily loved or hated.

One thing is certain though: The prolific guard, despite his on-court antics so loathed by the opposition, is currently being toasted by Meralco and its fans for helping the Bolts score back-to-back wins and earning for himself the Accel-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week citation for March 5-11.

Dubbed "Captain Hook," Cardona notched back-to-back 25-point games and sprinkled those with other statistics to emerge as the hands-down choice for the award given by scribes and emerge as the first Meralco player to earn the honor in the franchise’s young existence.

Foremost among those who welcomed the citation was Bolts coach Ryan Gregorio. "I was really hoping his exploits would be recognized," said Gregorio, who readily gave up a first round draft choice to acquire Cardona from Talk N Text in August 2010.

"In our last two wins he was simply phenomenal. He took it upon himself to bring our game to the next level by displaying tremendous firepower on offense and tireless energy to bring up the intensity level of the entire team after a 1-4 start."

Along the way, Cardona also incurred the ire of opposing teams and their fans with such gestures as pulling down his shorts in front of the other team’s bench, asking a defender with his hands the question of "How tall are you?" after scoring a basket, and cupping his hands to his ears to drown out the heckles and boos coming his way.

The 30-year-old former La Salle Green Archer explained his antics are just his way of venting his emotions.

Source: Malaya