PBA Roundup: Aguilar, Castro lead Rappler’s Best Player race

MANILA, Philippines – Several players have brought their ‘A’ game all throughout a long, grueling, 14-game elimination phase in the PLDT Home DSL PBA Philippine Cup, helping their teams stay alive in the hunt for the much-coveted PBA title. With action in the quarterfinals already heating up, Rappler gives you the 5 best picks in the roundup of the PBA Best Player Race.

 

1. Japeth Aguilar, Brgy. Ginebra San Miguel

 

18.9 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 1.6 APG, 0.4 SPG, 3.5 BPG, 55.3% FGs, 30.8% 3-PT FGs, 42.58 EFF

 

Japeth Aguilar is unarguably the most consistent player in the Philippine Cup this season, averaging personal highs in points and blocks. In only his fourth PBA season after being loaned to Smart Gilas Pilipinas from 2009-2011, Aguilar has now earned the respect of millions of Filipino hoops fans. From being a prospect oozing with potential, the high-flying forward is now living up to expectations and he is continuing to soar higher. He leads the league in shot blocks; he is also fourth in scoring, almost doubling his 9.56 PPG average last season while his 55.3% clip from the field is second-best in the league. He also had two game-winning treys in this conference against Talk ‘N Text and Meralco, which only means he’s a complete package. He’ll only be turning 27 on January 25, which means there will be a lot more to come from one of the most athletic forwards to ever play in the league.

 

READ: Japeth Aguilar continues to soar

 

2. Jayson Castro, Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters

 

19.2 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 5 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 87.8% FTs, 42.6% 3-PT FGs, 38.73 EFF

 

Jayson Castro, the reigning best player in this conference, has clearly evolved as the face of the Talk ‘N Text franchise. Ever since his PBA debut in 2008, the lightning-quick guard has dazzled in the league with his tremendous speed; he is just unstoppable one-on-one, and he doesn’t stop improving every year. His very accurate clip from downtown (42.6%) and from the stripe (87.8%) are both personal-bests in a PBA season. The FIBA Asia 2013 Mythical 5 member is also the Tropang Texters’ leading scorer. Displaying a full arsenal of weapons, Castro will be very hard to deal with especially when he’s in his deadly form.

 

READ: Best in Asia: Castro named to All-Star 5

 

3. Arwind Santos, Petron Blaze Boosters

 

17 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.6 BPG, 38.58 EFF 

 

Arwind Santos, the reigning PBA season MVP, has been a subject of criticism for his poor showing in the 2013 Governors Cup finals where Petron lost to San Mig in a nail-biting series, 3 games to 4. But in this season, Santos is showing why he deserves to be named Most Valuable Player in the league. The second overall pick in 2006 is just a shade under garnering a double-double average with 17 PPG and 9.9 RPG; the 7-time defensive and 6-time mythical 1st team member showed spectators that he still possesses the spirit of an MVP. When most have shifted their attention towards Santos’ hulking frontcourt partner June Mar Fajardo, the multi-awarded forward is here to stay as Petron’s chief operator, proving his luster hasn’t faded at all. 

 

READ: Santos shows MVP grace under pressure

 

4. Mark Barroca, San Mig Super Coffee Mixers

 

14.6 PPG, 5 PPG, 4.5 APG, 2.6 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 75% FTs, 35.1 EFF

 

When Mark Barroca entered the San Mig franchise (then known as B-Meg Llamados), he barely got a chunk of the minutes as veteran point guards Roger Yap and Josh Urbiztondo would share the spotlight with him. But with his eventual growth as a pro player and the departure of the two other point guards, Barroca earned Coach Tim Cone’s starting nod and is now the chief court general in the Mixers’ line up. He has been terrific in this conference, leading his team in scoring, assists, and steals (a league-best 2.64 per game). From just a 17.4 minutes per game average in his rookie season, the third year point guard out of Far Eastern University plays 35.86 minutes a game in the season, ninth most in the league.

 

READ: The ‘Coffee Prince’ works in silence

 

5. Sonny Thoss, Alaska Aces

 

15.7 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 2.7 APG, 0.4 SPG, 1.4 BPG, 52.7% FGs, 72.7 FTs, 38.07 EFF

 

While it has been an up and down tournament for most of the Alaska Aces, Sonny Thoss is the steadiest guy in their lineup in the conference. The 6-foot-7 center of Papua New Guinean descent lorded over the paint, terrorizing every team with his impeccable post moves and deft touch from mid-range. The 32-year-old PBA veteran’s 15.73 PPG average is the highest over his 10-year PBA career. He added 6 double-doubles in this conference, manning the shaded area for Alaska. The two-time national team player remains as one of the finest big men in the league.

 

READ: Should Thoss be considered again for Gilas Pilipinas?

 

Don’t agree with our picks? Tell us who you think should be the best player in the PLDT Home DSL PBA Philippine Cup on the comments section below. – Rappler.com