A new PBA season is upon us, and with it comes
renewed passion for the game all Pinoys love. Over the offseason, I have come
to wonder about one thing – who are the best pro players we have right now?
It’s a question that has been asked and answered many times already -- by many
people, in many different times, in many different places, and using many
different metrics (or no metrics at all).
Here’s my feeble take on the whole thing – a three-part
series revolving around the best performers of the past season and how they
might do in this new one. In this second part, I will focus on the wingmen of
the PBA. These are the guys who play either/both small forward and/or shooting
guard for their respective teams.
Now, one peculiar thing about PBA wingmen is that
they come in a WIDE range of sizes and skill-sets. For example, we have Danny
Seigle, a 6’7 Fil-Am who can play both perimeter positions, and Willie Miller,
a 5’11 Pampangueño combo-guard. We have Air21 SF KG Cañaleta, who played center
in college, and Alaska’s Calvin Abueva, another Pampagueño who has the skills
to play pretty much all five spots.
Please take note that this list is based purely on
the Efficiency Ratings for the entire 2012-2013 PBA season as calculated by PBA-Online.net. Also, I won’t be taking
the rookies into account yet, so don’t look for guys like James Forrester, Alex
Nuyles, and Jeric Teng.
And now, without further ado, here are the Top Ten Wingmen
in the PBA (heading into the 2013-2014 season):
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| El Granada, Big Game James, Jeff Chan, and The Spark are all on this list. Who else joins them? (composite image by Enzo Flojo/Hoop Nut) |
10. Jeff
Chan (ROS) – 11.9ppg, 3.6rpg, 2.6apg, 1.2 triples per game, 74.5 FT%, 25.97 EFF
- Chan’s production took a dip in 2012-2013, perhaps
because his being a part of Gilas took its toll on the former FEU sniper. Chan
still averaged pretty good numbers, mind you, but his scoring and overall
shooting nosedived a bit. He did try and
compensate with better rebounding and assists totals, though. Overall Chan
remains one of the best shooting guards in the league, and he will definitely
be an integral part of Gilas’s drive in the 2014 FIBA World Cup. He actually
also did really well in the Painters’ first game of the season, draining 4
triples on his way to 17 points.
9. PJ Simon
(SMC) – 12.8ppg, 3.4rpg, 1.3apg, 32.1 3pt%, 76.7 FT%, 26.01 EFF
- PJ Simon is the most perfect back-up SG, simply
because, frankly speaking, there is hardly any dip in production between him
and the next guy on this list, James Yap. Simon isn’t as streaky as Yap, but he
seems to be a bit more consistent, a bit more reliable. And, I mean, Simon is
just money off the pine. Where else can you find a back-up scoring nearly 13
points per game? He’s clearly one of the most underrated players in the league,
and, I daresay, he might even be a bigger star if he were on another team
(hello, PBA expansion, let’s do this). When Simon returns from injury, look for
him to boost the Mixers’ depth in the backcourt.
8. James
Yap (SMC) – 13.3ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.6apg, 1.3 triples per game, 26.19 EFF
- Yap is one of the poster boys of the PBA (he
definitely is one of its most sought-after endorsers), but a quick glance at
his career stats reveals that, in fact, his production has been dipping steadily
since 2010-2011. The former UE Red Warrior hasn’t scored this low since his
rookie season, and, again, his 29% shooting clip from long distance is among
the worst in his storied career. Here’s another troubling fact, too – he shot
just 64% from the line last season, which is his lowest clip ever. All in all, I think Yap still belongs in the
upper echelon of PBA snipers, but don’t be surprised if his scoring sprees come
few and far between this season.
7. Marcio
Lassiter (PET) – 12.1ppg, 3.5rpg, 2.0apg, 2.0 triples per game, 45.3 3pt%, 26.37
EFF
- As good as Lassiter was for Petron last season, we
have to remember that his rookie year was even more spectacular. This was the
guy who normed 17 points, 6 boards, 4 assists, and more than 1 steal in his
maiden PBA year. Of course, one major factor that contributed to Lassiter’s
“sophomore slump” was the nine fewer minutes he played per game. From being one
of the main guys on Powerade in 2011-2012, Lassiter became “just another
scoring option” for the Boosters. What’s worse is that the guy who plays behind
him, Chris Lutz, is pretty much a carbon copy wingman. Does this mean Lassiter
is bound to have another lukewarm season in Petron blue? Maybe not, especially
after he top-scored in the Boosters’s opening game triumph over the Batang Pier
– he hit 4 treys and totaled 18 points.
6. Danny
Seigle (???) – 11.8ppg, 4.6rpg, 1.3apg, 27.12 EFF
- Yes, one of the league’s best wingmen is presently
unemployed. It’s a travesty, I tell you. I mean, as a 36-37-year old guy who
once went down with a tragic ACL tear, Seigle still impressed last season.
Surely, he’s no longer as explosive as he once was, but one look at that superb
double-ankle-breaker
against Ginebra should make any basketball fan see that this old man still
can. After Barako Bull dropped Seigle (Why, you ask? Who the hell knows?), it
was rumored he’d be shipped to another San Miguel squad, and then maybe to Talk
N Text, and then now he’s back in limbo. Man, I just hope I get to see him play
again, you know? I hope he doesn’t follow his kuya’s footsteps and just go back to the States. He’s a baller of
the best kind. If not in the PBA, then maybe in the ABL?
5. Cyrus
Baguio (ALA) – 13.4ppg, 3.8rpg, 2.7apg, 1.0spg, 1.2 triples per game, 40.4
3pt%, 28.84 EFF
- One might have
thought Baguio’s production would go south after Alaska’s acquisition of Calvin
Abueva, right? Only that didn’t happen. Instead of his game significantly
suffering, Baguio remained super solid throughout last season, even helping the
Aces win the Commish Cup. His efficiency rating from last season is actually
the third-highest in his career, and, after all these years, the former King
Tiger still looks very sharp. He is known for his athleticism and
explosiveness, but one thing has been doing quite well recently (although he
doesn’t get much press for it) is that he is a potential lights-out shooter.
Baguio hit more than 40% of his threes last season, making better than one per
outing. Expect him to continue having a strong showing for the Aces this year.
4. KG
Cañaleta (AIR) – 16.7ppg, 5.3rpg, 1.3apg, 2.6 triples per game, 36.9 3pt%,
30.67 EFF
- It’s no wonder Cañaleta was named the PBA’s Most
Improved Player last season. I mean, this guy had a heckuva year – just look at
those numbers! It was, by far, the best season in his career, and it shouldn’t
really come as a surprise if he remains one of the league’s deadliest
stretch-forwards. It’s actually funny to think of Cañaleta as a wingman, since
he primarily played center before turning pro. Right now, though, the former UE
big man plies his trade mostly around the perimeter, eschewing the low post
game for sweet-looking jump shots and pull-ups. I am so excited for the kind of
season everyone expects him to have, but the addition of Joseph Yeo and Mac
Cardona to the Air21 roster worries me a bit. Those two just aren’t known for
their passing game, and I fear KG might not have as many touches as he had last
season.
3. Gary
David (MER) – 18.8ppg, 3.4rpg, 1.3apg, 1.9 triples per game, 84.9 FT%, 30.82
EFF
- El Granada is still, hands down, one of the purest
shooters not just in the country, but in the entire continent. Need proof? Just
ask the Kazakhs, who were burned by David for four three-pointers in that
quarterfinal rout in the 2013 FIBA Asia tourney. This past season David’s
scoring dropped from the career-high 25.8ppg he posted in 2011-2012, but his
nearly 19 points per outing still stands as one of the best in the pro circuit.
His three-point percentage also slid down sharply (from 36% in 2011-2012 to 30%
last season), but perhaps that can be attributed to tighter defense from his
opponents and the fact that he tried to diversify his game by being more
aggressive going to the basket. Of course, he didn’t exactly have fresh legs
often because of his multiple stints with Gilas. Now that David is with the
Bolts, I don’t see his production dipping. In fact, I would venture to think he
will be Meralco’s top scorer this season. In the Bolts’ first game, in fact,
David unloaded 26 points on the Texters, although he did hit just 1 of his 8
three-point attempts.
2. Calvin
Abueva (ALA) – 12.3ppg, 9.4rpg, 1.8apg, 31.63 EFF
- Nobody outside of the Alaska fanbase really likes
Abueva (that’s putting it mildly, you know), but his game sure is something to
behold. Yes, his opposition-directed antics will surely irk anyone and
everyone, but, hey, that’s just part of his character as a basketball player. That’s
where he draws his strength, and that’s what makes him so special. For a
significant chunk of last season, people debated whether this kid (a 25-year
old kid, mind you) was deserving to be in the MVP conversation. That alone is
an accolade any rookie would die to have. In addition to that, though, Abueva
halped the Aces bag their first conference title in a while (and very first
after Tim Cone jumped ship). It was, indeed, a memorable year for everyone’s
fave on-court heel, and this season should give us more reasons to talk about
him and, well, jeer him.
1. Mark
Caguioa (GIN) – 17.2ppg, 4.5rpg, 2.6apg, 1.0 triples per game, 31.96 EFF
- Yes, Mark the Spark is still the PBA’s best (read: most
productive) wingman. Some people might say he plays point for the Kings, but,
hey, with Tenorio there, who in his right mind would put Caguioa at PG? And,
let’s face it, his skill-set is really for a two-guard – a very effective
two-guard. Think Kemba Walker or Allen Iverson. Caguioa had his best scoring
season in 2012-2013 since scoring nearly 20 per game in 2007-2008, and I am
sure he’s only going to try harder this season now that his team just got
bigger and deeper. Look for him to get really motivated to put the Gin Kings
back on top of the heap. Of course, he will have to do much better than the 2
points on 0/4 FG shooting he put up against the Mixers last weekend.
Outside
looking in:
Larry Fonacier (TNT) – 25.83 EFF
Mac Cardona (AIR) – 25.62 EFF
Willie Miller (BAR) – 25.44 EFF
Gabe Norwood (ROS) – 24.36 EFF
Chris Lutz (PET) – 23.46 EFF
Promising
Rookie wings:
James Forrester (GIN)
Ryan Buenafe (ALA)
Alex Nuyles (ROS)
Nico Salva (GLO)
Jeric Teng (ROS)
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