The power forward
position, perhaps next to the point guard spot, is arguably the position in the
PBA with deepest pool of talent. Go down the line and you’re bound to see
marquee names playing the 4. From the greats like Alvin Patrimonio, Jun Limpot,
Danny Ildefonso, and Eric Menk to contemporary superstars like Arwind Santos
and Marc Pingris, the 4 is one position never short of greatness.
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 16, 2014.
5. Ranidel De Ocampo (TNT) – 14.7ppg, 7.6rpg, 1.4apg, 2.4 triples per
game, 44.9 3pt%, 33.3 EFF
- RDO has become the
Texters’ most reliable big man, given how Kelly Williams is in the injured list
and how Noy Baclao continues to adjust. RaniDirk is in mighty sharp form so
far, netting three double-doubles already in the season, including a 24-point,
13-rebound beauty against the Painters, though they did lose that one. TNT
should make the next round, and they will definitely lean on De Ocampo to carry
their defense of the Philippine Cup.
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| Ranide De Ocampo remains one of the PBA's best PFs. (image by Paolo Papa/Sports 5) |
4. Gabby Espinas (ALA) – 11.6ppg, 9.5rpg, 2.1apg, 54.5 FG%, 33.4 EFF
- Don’t look now, but the
6’5 PCU product is having his best season as a pro, averaging a
near-double-double in the process. Perhaps his most impressive game so far has
been Alaska’s win over Meralco last December 18, when he grabbed a herculean 23
rebounds. His team has been on a 3-game skid of late, though, so Espinas will
have to pull some more rabbits out of his hat to get Alaska into the next
round.
3. Arwind Santos (PET) – 17.0ppg, 10.2rpg, 1.3apg, 1.2spg, 1.6bpg, 47.1
FG%, 38.9 EFF
- As good as Santos has
been for the Boosters, he’s actually enjoying his best PBA season this year.
The reigning MVP is one of just four guys averaging double-doubles, and he’s
the only non-center, too. He has scored at least 14 points in every game so far
(before dropping 12 last night), helping Petron stay in contention for one of
the twice-to-beat edges in the next round. Santos looks to be setting up a
season for the books, folks.
2. Jay Washington (GLO) – 19.2ppg, 9.9rpg, 2.4apg, 1.1spg, 1.3 triples
per game, 83.9 FT%, 40.8 EFF
- Santos’s former teammate
at Petron is thriving in his new home, where he is enjoying a leadership role
alongside fellow veteran Sol Mercado. J-Wash has been racking up big numbers in
the current conference, and he should be in the thick of the Best Player of the
Conference conversation should the Batang Pier go deep in the knockout rounds.
Provided, of course, he recovers well from his current injury woes.
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| Jay Washington looks like a man on a mission this season. (image by Pranz Kaeno Billones/Sports 5) |
1. Japeth Aguilar (GIN) – 19.8ppg, 9.3rpg, 1.8apg, 3.9bpg, 53.1 FG%,
44.3 EFF
- As of this writing,
Aguilar is already the frontrunner for the Best Player of the Conference.
Clearly, this is his best season so far, as he’s norming a virtual double-double
and leading the league in blocked shots. He’s second in scoring, second in
total double-doubles, fifth in FG%, and second in total free throws made. This
is not the Japeth Aguilar we’re used to seeing. This is the Japeth Aguilar we’ve
all been waiting for.
Outside looking in:
Marc Pingris (SMC) – 33.1
EFF
Reynel Hugnatan (MER) –
30.1 EFF
Jervy Cruz (ROS) – 29.5
EFF
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