Maybe now more than ever,
the center position in the PBA is chock-full of potentially game-changing
talent. With the influx of young and highly-skilled big men, the PBA, and
Philippine hoops in general, is on the verge of a new age. As proof of this,
four of the league’s top ten players (in terms of player efficiency) are all
natural centers.
With oldies-but-goodies
like Asi Taulava and Sonny Thoss still playing high-level ball alongside
greenhorns like June Mar Fajardo, Greg Slaughter, and Raymond Almazan, the
future of frontlines looks mighty bright in the PBA.
In this post we will look
at the top five power forwards in the 2013-2014 PBA Philippine Cup, based
principally on their player efficiency ratings, or EFF, as calculated by PBA-Online.net.
Note: Stats as of the morning of January 21, 2014.
5. Rafi Reavis (SMC) – 6.1ppg, 6.1rpg, 1.2apg, 61.1 FG%, 25.6 EFF
- Lanky veteran Rafi
Reavis isn’t top of mind when it comes to the most dominant centers
conversation, but he’s a quiet workhorse who does his job anyway. Give the fact
that he’s already 36 years old and he plays under 19 minutes per game, one has
to admire his modest production. If he plays as much as the other guys on this
list, he could easily put up double-double numbers every game.
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| Rafi Reavis, despite being unheralded, is one of the most efficient centers in the league. (image by Paolo Papa/Sports 5) |
4. Asi Taulava (A21) - 13.2ppg, 14.4rpg, 2.0apg, 37.6 EFF
- The 41-year-old
BYU-Hawaii product continues to lord it in the paint, averaging a sublime double-double
for the cellar-dwelling Express. He actually has the third-highest number of
double-doubles this season, right behind young ‘uns June Mar Fajardo and Greg
Slaughter. It’s a pity we won’t be seeing Asi in the Philippine Cup anymore
since Air 21 has been booted out.
3. Sonny Thoss (ALA) - 15.4ppg, 8.9rpg, 2.7apg, 1.4bpg, 52.0 FG%, 37.8
EFF
- So far, The Boss is
having his finest season in the pros, averaging a near-double-double and
filling the sheet on a regular basis. His 21-point, 7-rebound effort last night
to thwart the Meralco Bolts was splendid, and it looks like he’s dead-set on
giving Ginebra’s vaunted frontline a tough time in the quarterfinals. He seems
more motivated than ever, and that means the rest of the league’s big men
better watch out.
2. Greg Slaughter (GIN) - 15.7ppg, 10.2rpg, 1.2apg, 1.9bpg, 52.6 FG%,
38.8 EFF
- Despite the Gin Kings’
forgettable outing against TNT in their final game this past weekend, Greg
Slaughter remains the frontrunner in the Rookie-of-the-Year race and one of the
country’s best slotmen. The 25-year-old center is wasting no time making
everyone see just what he can do. He scores in the paint and from as far as 10
feet out, he crashes the boards, and he blocks shots left and right. The future
looks mighty fine for Ginebra, and is Slaughter is, quite literally, a big
reason why.
1. June Mar Fajardo (PET) - 15.1ppg, 15.6rpg, 1.5apg, 2.5bpg, 49.0 FG%,
43.6 EFF
- Fajardo’s first two
games back from injury were a little underwhelming, but his latest one was a
masterpiece. The 24-year-old Cebuano native dropped 19 points and 15 rebounds
on the Bolts, and we can all see that as a sign he’s back to his dominant ways.
Look for him to give Barako Bull’s aging frontcourt a really tough time in the
next round. Also, should Petron go deep into the Playoffs, Fajardo should be
the favorite to win the Best Player of the Conference award.
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| June Mar Fajardo looks like he's back to his dominant self. (image by Paul Ryan Tan/Sports 5) |
Outside looking in:
Doug Kramer (PET) – 25.6
EFF
Dorian Peña (BAR) – 25.1
EFF
Beau Belga (ROS) – 24.7
EFF
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