Best Player of the Conference
June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez of San Miguel maintained their stronghold on the top two positions in the intense fight for the PBA Philippine Cup Best Player of the Conference.
Fajardo stayed first in the rankings with a total of 42.7 statistical points, while Perez remains close behind in second place with 39.7 statistical points, according to the most recent statistics given after the conclusion of the quarterfinals.
The 32-year-old Fajardo is averaging 17.9 points, a league-leading 13.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game to help the top-seeded Beermen progress to the best-of-seven semifinals by defeating the eighth-seeded Blackwater.
Perez, meanwhile, had remarkable statistics of 17.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 2.4 steals to displace his 6-foot-11 colleague for the conference’s top individual honor.
Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, and Christian Standhardinger, all of Barangay Ginebra, hold the following three positions on the Top 5 list.
Thompson, the reigning league MVP
Thompson, the reigning league MVP, has 37.8 sps based on averages of 16.7 points, 9.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.5 steals, followed by Aguilar with 33.1 sps based on averages of 17.1 points, 8.0 rebounds, and a league-leading 2.6 block shots, and Standhardinger, who averaged 14.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists for 32.8 sps.
Unfortunately, the Kings’ elimination from the playoffs in the quarterfinals versus Meralco severely hampered their prospects of claiming the Best Player of the Conference.
Robert Bolick and Jamie Malonzo remained in contention despite NorthPort failing to make the playoffs.
Bolick finished sixth with 32.63 sps (18.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 5.6 assists), followed by Malonzo with 32.60 sps (17.2 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.9 steals, and 1.4 blocks).
Chris Newsome, a guard for Meralco, is making a late push for the award by jumping three spots in the rankings to finish eighth with 32.5 points (16.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 5.6 assists).
The same cannot be said for Jio Jalalon of Magnolia, who dropped from fifth to a tie for eighth and ninth with Newsome despite posting a comparable 32.5 sps (12.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 2.2 steals).
Calvin Oftana of NLEX closed out the top ten with a score of 32. (17.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.6 steals).
Ato Ular of Blackwater continues to lead all rookies with 21.1 sps (14.2 points and 8.4 rebounds), followed by Justine Arana of Converge with 21.5 sps.
NorthPort’s John Michael Calma (19.1 sps), Phoenix’s Tyler Tio (18.2 sps), and Converge’s Jeo Ambohot round out the top five (17.9 sps).
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