June Mar Fajardo has been, hands down, the most productive local
player in the PBA this season, but who else joins him in the top ten? As Finals
MVP for the previous conference, Arwind Santos is a shoo-in, right? How about
top overall pick Stanley Pringle? The Beast? The Rock? Who else makes the cut?
At least one name on this list will surprise you.
Without further ado, here they are – the
top ten players of the 2014-2015 PBA season as of the All-Star break (as
always, this is based on the Player Efficiency ratings as calculated by PBA-Online.net):
10. Cliff Hodge (MER) - 10.6ppg, 8.7rpg, 2.0apg, 1.3bpg, 45.3 FG%,
31.0 EFF
- Despite his numbers and despite his team doing pretty well this
conference, it seems like Cliff Hodge still doesn’t get the respect he deserves
in the PBA. I mean, how is this guy not in the All-Star Game? It’s a friggin’
travesty. Here’s to hoping he continues to shut them haters up with his game
post-All-Star.
9. Brian Heruela (BLA) - 11.3ppg, 5.2rpg, 5.4apg, 1.3spg, 47.7
FG%, 31.3 EFF
- Yes, folks, this year’s Rookie of the Year race has just become
a two-horse affair with Heruela seemingly coming into his own for the
Blackwater Elite. He was pretty much overlooked in the 2015 PBA Draft and for
much of the previous conference, but the stocky Cebu product has slowly risen to
be one of the most efficient guards in the league. He scores, rebounds, and
defends with impunity. Oh, and don’t forget that he is currently the season leader
in assists per game.
8. Terrence Romeo (GLO) - 18.2ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.5apg, 1.8 triples per
game, 34.0 3pt%, 42.5 FG%, 32.1 EFF
- Romeo has been nothing short of fantastic this season. He has
been better in every major statistical category and has become one of the
country’s best offensive operators bar none. Yes, his shot selection is still a
little crazy, and he’s still a bit of a ball hog, but, hey, he wouldn’t be
Terrence Romeo otherwise. Without a doubt, he has become the face of the
GlobalPort Batang Pier.
7. Jayson Castro (TNT) - 16.1ppg, 3.6rpg, 4.3apg, 1.1spg, 2.1
triples per game, 39.4 3pt%, 43.7 FG%, 32.2 EFF
- Without question, the biggest improvement in Jayson’s game this
season has been his three-point shooting. Castro is third overall in 3pt% and
leads all point guards with 52 threes made to date. Of course, it goes without
saying that he is still maybe the most dangerous slasher in the country and
that he is still a demon on the defensive end. He just keeps on improving as
the seasons pass.
6. Stanley Pringle (GLO) - 13.8ppg, 6.7rpg, 4.2apg, 1.6spg, 30.2
3pt%, 46.7 FG%, 33.4 EFF
- As good as Castro and Romeo have been, however, the numbers tell
us that the best guard so far this season has been none other than 2015 top
overall draft pick Stanley Pringle. Yes, his game has become a little
unpredictable in the current conference, but his body of work since the start
of the season is just insane considering he is just a rookie. He doesn’t score
as much as his teammate Romeo, but he does all the other things like rebounding,
playmaking, and defending, and how!
5. Arwind Santos (SMB) - 15.2ppg, 7.8rpg, 1.7apg, 1.5bpg, 1.8
triples per game, 30.7 3pt%, 42.3 FG%, 33.4 EFF
- Santos is currently fourth overall in scoring, third overall in
total rebounds, second overall in blocks, and has recorded 9 double-doubles so
far. Oh, and he has the second-highest three-pointers made total in the season
(just behind Dondon Hontiveros). He was well-deserving of the BPC in the
Philippine Cup, but he needs to rediscover his game here in the Commish Cup if
the Beermen are to climb out of the cellar.
4. Asi Taulava (NLX) - 14.2ppg, 10.5rpg, 2.2apg, 50.8 FG%, 36.0
EFF
- The Rock continues to defy Father Time. Despite being 42 years
old now, Asi remains one of the league’s top players. He is third overall in
rebounding, and he has recorded 10 double-doubles in the season. He also
continues to be one of the most recognizable and iconic players in the PBA. Too
bad he’s stuck on a team that is hard-pressed to duplicate their semifinal
finish in this same conference last season.
3. Calvin Abueva (ALA) - 14.8ppg, 10.3rpg, 2.5apg, 1.0spg, 45.2
FG%, 36.3 EFF
- Abueva has been struggling in the current conference, but he is
still certainly one of the top overall players in the league. Historically
speaking, he has really struggled in the Commish Cup, but don’t be surprised if
he regains his groove. He has scored in double-figures in three of his last
four games, which should give him added momentum as Alaska fights to stay alive
for the quarterfinals.
2. Greg Slaughter (GIN) - 15.5ppg, 11.1rpg, 1.5apg, 49.5 FG%, 38.9
EFF
- Gregzilla has silently built his sleeper case for season MVP.
Okay, maybe it’s too early and that was a bit of a stretch, but nobody can turn
a blind eye to how Greg has improved compared to his rookie campaign. Yes,
there has been a slight drop in his blocks and FG%, but this is compensated by his
increased scoring, rebounding, and aggressiveness. If Greg can continue playing
with this demeanor, he may yet help Ginebra snare a crown and help himself
overtake the #1 guy on this list.
1. June Mar Fajardo (SMB) - 16.3ppg, 12.7rpg, 1.6apg, 1.8bpg, 54.3
FG%, 42.0 EFF
- Fajardo has ever so slightly slowed down in this, his third
season in the pros. His scoring, rebounding, and blocking are all lower than
last season, though not by much. And, well, he did help his Beermen win their
first All-Filipino title in more than a decade, right? Most would say he’s the
best overall player in the PBA, and new Gilas Pilipinas coach Tab Baldwin
agrees, singling Fajardo out as the only sure holdover from the 2014 Gilas
Pilipinas roster. June Mar has really been a revelation in the PBA, but the
jury is still out on whether he can translate that to international
competition.
Outside looking in:
Paul Lee (ROS) - 30.7 EFF
Marc Pingris (PUR) - 30.5 EFF
Japeth Aguilar (GIN) - 29.8 EFF
Mark Barroca (PUR) - 28.8 EFF
Bryan Faundo (BLA) - 28.8 EFF
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