The Top 5 Rookies of the 2015 PBA Commissioner’s Cup

Everyone’s default ROY this season seems to be Stanley Pringle. That’s not necessarily wrong, of course, since he has put up the best body of work SO FAR. Still, during the Commish Cup, he seemed to take a back seat to the likes of Brian Heruela and Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, and now that Pringle is in sick bay (and neck-deep in trade rumors), he slides further down from top-of-mind ROY convos. So in the event that Pringle doesn’t top the ladder in the second conference, who did? 

Without further ado, here they are – the top five rookies of the 2015 PBA Commissioner’s Cup:

*This is based on simple Player Efficiency ratings as calculated by me — [(Pts + Rebs + Asts + Stls + Blks) - (FTM + FGM + TOs)]/ Games Played.

5. Jake Pascual (BAR) - 5.5ppg, 4.2rpg, 1.0apg, 1.0spg, 48.3 FG%, 7.2 EFF
- Even in a conference chock-full of giants, Pascual has been a solid contributor for Barako Bull. He has slid to his natural PF position and remains as reliable as ever. His scrappiness and physicality reminds me of a young Marc Pingris. If he can continue being aggressive on both ends, his career may just mirror the one Ping has built all these years.

4. Chris Banchero (ALA) - 6.8ppg, 4.0rpg, 40.0 FG%, 7.4 EFF
- It seems Banchero was used a lot more effectively in the second conference than in the first. He had several double-digit scoring games and seemed to supplant RJ Jazul and, at times, even Dondon Hontiveros as the primary guard back-up. I’ve always been high on Banchero, and I’m delighted his production has really improved.

3. Matt Rosser (TNT) - 11.8ppg, 3.9rpg, 2.2apg, 1.0bpg, 50.6 FG%, 11.9 EFF
- Rosser’s production has tapered off a bit now that we’re in the playoffs, but he had some standout performances in the elims. In particular, he averaged nearly 17 points a game in a stretch where the Texters won 3 of 4 matches. He has been a beast on oboth ends off the floor, and is slowly morphing into a more aggressive, drive-oriented version of Gabe Norwood. Should be in the Gilas pool IMHO.

2. Brian Heruela (BLA) - 11.5ppg, 5.0rpg, 4.9apg, 1.6spg, 44.9 FG%, 14.4 EFF
- How the hell did this guy slide down all the way to the third round of the 2014 PBA Draft?! He has been one of two big reasons Blackwater got not one, not two, but three wins this conference (the other being Marcus Douthit, of course). Remember his 27-point, 8-rebound, 7-assists explosion against Kia? WOW. If he doesn’t slow down, one of the bigger-name teams might actually take an interest and trade for him soon.

1. Stanley Pringle (GLO) - 11.9ppg, 6.8rpg, 3.1apg, 1.0spg, 49.4 FG%, 15.4 EFF
- No superbly outstanding games for Pringle in the second conference, but he remains King of the ROY Hill if only he has been super steady. Even when he’s not scoring in bunches, he finds a way to contribute by hauling rebounds (tops among all rookies and guards), handing out dimes left and right (top 12 overall), and netting steals. That’s the reason Ginebra fans want him to come over and GlobalPort management wants him to stay.


Honorable Mentions:
Kevin Alas (TNT) - 5.3ppg, 2.9rpg, 2.3apg, 45.1 FG%, 5.2 EFF
Anthony Semerad (GLO) - 5.5ppg, 3.0rpg, 34.8 FG%, 4.5 EFF
Kyle Pascual (KIA) - 4.2ppg, 2.6rpg, 38.5 FG%, 4.1 EFF


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