MANILA, Philippines – Jhonard Clarito, affectionately nicknamed “Michael Jhonard” by his teammates from Rain or Shine, is making waves on the court with performances reminiscent of basketball legend MJ. The previous season’s Most Improved Player has been putting in the hard work, and it showed in his games last week!
The 6-foot-2 guard was instrumental in leading the Elasto Painters to a strong 2-1 start in their best-of-five quarterfinal matchup against Magnolia in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup. In their first encounter, Clarito scored 20 points and grabbed five rebounds, helping his team edge out the Hotshots with a nail-biting score of 109-105.
When Game 3 came around, Clarito rose to the occasion again, determined to help his team bounce back from a heavy 69-121 defeat. Despite taking a hit and ending up with a bloodied nose in a physically demanding match, he managed to deliver 18 points and eight rebounds while achieving an impressive efficiency rating of +11. His contributions were vital in securing a hard-fought 111-106 overtime victory, putting the Elasto Painters ahead in the series.
Due to his outstanding performance, Clarito, who averages 14.7 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game, was honored as the PBA Press Corps-Pilipinas Live Player of the Week for September 25-29. He became the first player to receive this recognition in the quarterfinals, surpassing notable players like June Mar Fajardo from San Miguel Beer, Scottie Thompson from Barangay Ginebra, and RR Pogoy from TNT.
“Of course, we want to show that we can reach our goals. Coach Yeng (Guiao) always tells us we need to aim for the highest,” Clarito shared, expressing his pride in winning the award.
Guiao couldn’t stop praising the 28-year-old guard, especially after he took home the Best Player of the Game title during their pivotal win in Antipolo.
“Jhonard played with all his heart. It was blood, sweat, and tears—literally. He bled from his nose, but he still gave it his all,” Guiao said, commending his versatile player. “He can defend imports, score, and even cook if you need him to. Jhonard can do it all!”
