The power forward position
is one of the most loaded in the PBA, what with some teams having as many as two
star-worthy PFs (Meralco has Reynel Hugnatan and Cliff Hodge, while SMC has
Marc Pingris and Ian Sangalang). In this list, we’ll see the reigning MVP,
three Gilas Pilipinas players, and a guy who is maybe the best player on the
league’s worst team.
Without further ado, here
they are – the top five power forwards in the 2013-2014 PBA Commissioner’s Cup
as of the morning of April 11, 2014 (as always, this is based on the Player
Efficiency ratings as calculated by PBA-Online.net):
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| The Top Five PBA PFs right now! |
5. Marc Pingris (SMC) - 8.0ppg, 6.2rpg, 3.2apg, .559 FG%, 26.5 EFF
- Ping struggled against
the Tropang Texters before the All-Star break, but he rebounded well against
the Express, notching 12 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists. That put the Mixers
in the middle of the pack at 4-2, but they have a chance to move up should they
win their last three assignments (Alaska, Meralco, and San Miguel Beer – not in
that order). Needless to say, Ping will need to put up his usual numbers for
SMC to get those Ws.
4. Jay Washington (GLO) - 12.1ppg, 6.0rpg, 1.1apg, 1.4spg, 1.3 triples
per game, 27.3 EFF
- Seven games, seven
losses. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that losing all of one’s
games can be very frustrating. Still, J-Wash perseveres, averaging 18 points
and 5 rebounds in his last two games, while shooting 50% from the field and 56%
from beyond the arc (2.5 threes per outing). As things stand, they will
probably lose their last two assignments, too, which, naturally sucks for this
former top overall pick.
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| J-Wash's production hasn't translated into any wins for the Batang Pier. |
3. Japeth Aguilar (GIN) - 9.0ppg, 7.0rpg, 1.0apg, 1.1bpg, 27.7 EFF
- Aguilar’s scoring has
been up-and-down in this conference, but at least he has been relatively consistent
on the glass and around the rim. He norms abour 7 rebounds and better than 1
block per game for the Kings, who are struggling with 3 wins against 4 defeats.
Will they make a return trip to the Commish Cup Finals? I doubt, but if Aguilar
continues to play his role well, then who knows, right?
2. Ranidel De Ocampo (TNT) - 15.4ppg, 4.8rpg, 1.1apg, 2.0 triples per
game, .421 3pt%, .920 FT%, 30.8 EFF
- It’s no wonder the
Tropang Texters are currently undefeated, what with the top two candidates (as
of this writing) for Best Player of the Conference on their team. RDO is of those
guys (the other is Jayson Castro) mainly because he has been shooting really
well from practically everywhere. He is hitting about two treys a game and
making more than 90% of his charities. His best yet? A 28-point effort against
the Gin Kings in late March.
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| Ranidel De Ocampo battles down low in the 2014 PBA All-Star Game. |
1. Arwind Santos (SMB) - 15.6ppg, 6.4rpg, 2.0apg, 1.3spg, 1.4 triples
per game, 34.4 EFF
- The reigning MVP had
back-to-back double-doubles before the Beermen lost to the Aces last week. In
that back-to-back, Santos dropped a total of 34 points, 21 rebounds, 7 assists,
and 4 threes while shooting 54% from the field. He’s definitely making another
strong case for BPC and remains to be near the top in the season MVP race. Will
he make that a back-to-back, too? A big part of the answer depends on whether
he can lead SMB to the promised land in this conference.
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| Can Arwind Santos sustain his exceptionally strong play this season? |
Outside looking in:
Ian Sangalang (SMC) - 26.4
EFF
Reynel Hugnatan (MER) -
23.5 EFF
Cliff Hodge (MER) - 23.3
EFF
Images by Paul Ryan Tan & Pranz Kaeno Billones of Sports 5.
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