Arwind Santos paces PBA best player derby

PBA IMAGE/ Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines—Arwind Santos, the reedy Petron Blaze power forward, leads everyone in the statistical points race and is well on his way to becoming the first player in seven years to win the PBA Best Player of the Conference award back-to-back.

With game averages of 18.3 points and 12.3 rebounds after the quarterfinal round of the Philippine Cup, the long-armed Santos is averaging 38.63 SPs, six points clear of the second-running Kelly Williams of powerhouse defending champion Talk ‘N Text.

Santos is a shoo-in to make the final list of candidates for the Player of the Conference award, and if he wins, the former Far Eastern U ace will become the first player, after Eric Menk in 2004, to win the award consecutively.

Santos’ rebounding average is the best in the league and he is running fourth in scoring behind Powerade’s Gary David’s 22.5 points per game, B-Meg’s James Yap’s 19 ppg and Petron rookie Chris Lutz’s 18.33 ppg.

Alex Cabagnot, another Petron stalwart, lays third with 31.88 SPs followed by Yap (31.38), Talk ‘N Text’s Harvey Carey (30.77), David (30.69), Tropang Texter Jason Castro (30.64), Powerade’s Marcio Lassiter (29.94), Barako Bull’s Willie Miller (28.80) and Alaska’s Sonny Thoss (28.50).

The top five candidates after the best-of-seven semifinals that starts on Jan. 4 will make the final list of candidates, and David would have to pile up big numbers in the Tigers’ series against Rain or Shine to make the grade.

David has had the most memorable performance by anyone in the tournament; he exploded for 37 points against B-Meg that ousted the top-seeded Llamados.

Williams, the 2008 MVP, pooled 32.92 SPs a game.

Williams and Santos have an ongoing rivalry, with Williams winning the Rookie of the Year award when he and Santos entered the league in 2007.

Santos was also second when Williams pocketed the MVP in 2008.

Paul Lee, Rain or Shine’s super rookie, is in 11th spot with 28.27 SPs a game. The former University of the East ace has averages of 13.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and almost a steal to lead the Painters in all those departments.

The winner of the Player of the Conference award automatically becomes a contender for the season’s MVP citation.

David, Yap, Lutz and Santos come in that order in the scoring race, followed by Lassiter (16.25), Miller (15.9), Castro (15.64), Jeff Chan (15.5), Thoss (15.36) then Macmac Cardona (15.33).

Carey’s 11.15 rebounds is second only to Santos’ haul with Powerade’s Doug Kramer in third with 10.688.

Jay-R Reyes of Alaska has 10 boards a game with Asi Taulava (9.338), Ali Peek (9.833), James Sena (9.429), Thoss (9.357), Gabby Espinas (9.125) and Williams (8.917) rounding out the Top 10.