PBA: Abueva 3rd in SPs but still favorite to win Best Player plum
Alaska Aces’ Calvin Abueva. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Despite sliding to third in the latest statistical points standings, Calvin Abueva remains in the prime position to snare his first Best Player of the Conference award for the 2016 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Alaska’s energetic forward dropped one spot to third in the BPC race through the end of the semifinals, but is still the favorite to win after leading the Aces to the Finals, where they will meet Rain or Shine in a best-of-seven series.
Abueva sits at third with 32.7 SPs, coming from his all-around averages of 17.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.4 steals.
READ: PBA: BPC frontrunner Abueva keeps focus on title goal
Being the only player still in contention, gives Abueva an edge over eliminated contenders. SPs account for 40 percent of the total criteria, with 30 percent coming from votes from the media, 25 percent from the players, and 5 percent from the PBA.
Greg Slaughter remained on top with 34.2 SPs after averaging 17.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.3 blocks until the quarterfinals, while league’s leading scorer Terrence Romeo rose to second with his 33.0 SPs after netting 26.4 markers, 3.7 assists, and 3.4 boards.
Jayson Castro stayed at fourth with 29.8 SPs, while Carlo Lastimosa took solo fifth with 28.55 SPs.
READ: Old pals Dozier, Henderson-Niles face off in PBA Finals
Two-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo slid down to sixth (28.47 SPs), followed by NLEX forward Sean Anthony at seventh (28.2 SPs), San Miguel sniper Marcio Lassiter at eighth (26.9 SPs), teammate Alex Cabagnot at ninth (26.7 SPs), and Rain or Shine big man JR Quiñahan at 10th (25.9 SPs).
With Tyler Wilkerson’s ouster, Star’s Ricardo Ratliffe took the pole position in the statistical race for the Best Import plum with 52.63 SPs, followed by NLEX’s super scorer Al Thornton (52.58 SPs).
Following them in the top five are GlobalPort’s Shawn Taggart (49.2 SPs), TNT’s David Simon (48.1 SPs), and Ginebra’s Othyus Jeffers (46.6 SPs).
READ: RoS, Alaska try to end title drought in first PBA Finals meeting
Finalists Alaska’s Rob Dozier is at ninth with his 38.0 SPs, while Rain or Shine’s Pierre Henderson-Niles is dead last in the stats with only 33.4 SPs.
Awarding of both awards will be before Game 4 of the best-of-7 Finals series between Alaska and Rain or Shine next Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
