Abueva gaining in PBA Best Player race

MANILA, Philippines – Calvin Abueva is gaining on the Best Player of the Conference award for the 2016 PBA Commissioner’s Cup as of statistical points standings through the quarterfinals. 

The Alaska forward is currently ranked second with a total of 33.1 SPs behind Barangay Ginebra’s Greg Slaughter, who still holds the top spot with 34.2 SPs despite his team getting eliminated in the  quarters. 

Abueva, who has yet to win a Best Player award since entering the league in 2012, is the sole player in the top 5 whose team is still in the running for a championship with Alaska set to face Meralco in a best-of-5 semifinals starting Monday, April 25. 

Terrence Romeo, this conference’s leading local scorer, as well as Jayson Castro and Carlo Lastimosa occupy the third to fifth spots. 

San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo and Marcio Lassiter are at sixth and seventh with 28.55 and 28.54 SPs, respectively. They have a chance to crack the top 5 as the semifinals roll along with San Miguel matched up with Rain or Shine. 

Meanwhile, the Beermen’s Tyler Wilkerson is running away with the Best Import award, leading the race with 59.5 SPs. He is followed by Ricardo Ratliffe, who has 52.63 SPs but whose Star team is already eliminated.

The top 5 local players and imports after the semifinals will qualify for the Best Player and Best Import awards. Together with statistical points (40%), there will also be media (30%), player (25%) and Commissioner’s Office (5%) votes to determine the winners.

A look at the BPC and Best Import race for the 2016 PBA Commissioner’s Cup thru the quarterfinals #PBA2016 pic.twitter.com/LsiqNr3fbU

— Jane Bracher (@janebracher) April 24, 2016

– Rappler.com