The Top Five PBA Power Forwards Right Now (March 7, 2014)

Quality power forwards are a dime a dozen in the PBA, what with guys like Ranide De Ocampo, Marc Pingris, and Japeth Aguilar dominating almost on a daily basis. Of course, we also have Jay Washington, Jervy Cruz, and the reigning MVP Arwind Santos in the mix. Who else is included (or excluded) in our list of top PFs right now? Read on.

Without further ado, here they are – the top five power forwards in the 2013-2014 PBA season as of March 7, 2014 (as always, this is based on the Player Efficiency ratings as calculated by PBA-Online.net):

Who's the top dog PF in the PBA? Take your pick.
(composite image by Enzo Flojo/Hoop Nut)

5. Gabby Espinas (ALA) – 12.2ppg, 9.1rpg, 1.8apg, .527 FG%, 33.6 EFF

- Maybe the most underrated 4 in the country. Espinas has really upped his game from the past season, and he’s playing his best season since moving from the Meralco Bolts. Of course, let’s just forget that he put up just 3 points and 3 boards in Alaska’s yawner of a game this past Wednesday.

                                                                                                                          

4. Ranidel De Ocampo (TNT) – 15.2ppg, 7.5rpg, 1.7apg, 2.4 triples per game, .409 3pt%, 33.9 EFF

- I expect RDO to climb up the charts, especially after his monster 21-10 output against Espinas and the Aces two days ago. RDO is the best-shooting PF out there, and, despite his size, he cleans glass like crazy, so having him on this list is a no-brainer. With someone like Richard Howell in-charge mainly of the boards, RDO can focus on what he does best – puncturing the hoop.

3. Jay Washington (GLO) – 18.4ppg, 9.6rpg, 2.3apg, 1.0spg, 1.2 triples per game, 39.5 EFF

- J-Wash remains to be an enigma. He’ll drop three triples and 30 points one night and then put up bricks the next. I suspect his production will dip in this conference mainly because Justin Chua should have a bigger role for the Batang Pier. With new coach Pido Jarencio seemingly emphasizing the interior and bent on starting bruiser Jondan Salvador and the out-of-position Nico Salva, look for Washingto to shoot less from the perimeter and bump more in the low block. That’s not really his comfort zone, though, so, again, expect his production to dip a bit.

2. Arwind Santos (SMB) – 17.1ppg, 10.7rpg, 1.5apg, 1.1spg, 1.4bpg, 39.8 EFF

- The reigning MVP is playing the best basketball of his PBA career, but even that might not be enough to enable him to sustain his enviable efficiency rating. I suspect he’ll steal some playing time from Chris Lutz and play the 3 while June Mar Fajardo and Kevin Jones man the frontline. That means the former FEU stalwart will be playing a in position where he’s not confident, and he will need to jack up long jumpers more than he ought to. All in all? Expect a nosedive in his shooting and scoring. Otherwise, he might be up for another MVP-worthy campaign.

1. Japeth Aguilar (GIN) – 17.1ppg, 9.0rpg, 1.4apg, 2.8bpg, .522 FG%, 40.1 EFF

- Speaking of playing the best basketball of his career, nobody can argue just awesome Japeth Aguilar has been this season for the Ginebra Gin Kings. He leads the league in blocks and is fifth in total rebounds, while also becoming fourth in total double-doubles%, and seventh in FG%. Even with Leon Rodgers being a solid inside presence for the Kings, I expect Aguilar to continue thriving under the free-wheeling system of coach Ato Agustin. If anything, though, Aguilar should use this chance to further develop his midrange to long-range game. If he’s successful in doing that, then both Ginebra and Gilas stand to benefit big time.

Outside looking in:

Marc Pingris (SMC) – 33.3 EFF

Reynel Hugnatan (MER) – 29.1 EFF

Jervy Cruz (ROS) – 27.7 EFF

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