Calvin Abueva remained at the front seat in the battle for the PBA Philippine Cup Best Player of the Conference (BPC) after an outstanding quarterfinals series for Magnolia.

“The Beast” maintained his edge over TNT rookie Mikey Williams for the highest individual honor in the conference as he ended the quarterfinals with 36.4 statistical points (SPs).

Keying Magnolia to its first semifinal appearance in two years, Abueva averaged 14 points, 16 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in their quarterfinals sweep of Rain or Shine.

Williams is not far behind with 35 SPs after putting up 11 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists as top seed TNT booted out defending champion Barangay Ginebra.

Providing immediate impact in his first season with Magnolia, Abueva – who won BPC in 2016 when he was still with Alaska – is averaging 15.8 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.3 blocks.

Williams has also been magnificent, norming 17.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.2 steals for a TNT crew that has lost only once this conference.

At third in the BPC standings is NorthPort ace Robert Bolick with 33.7 SPs, although his bid for the award has likely ran its course after they were eliminated by San Miguel in the quarterfinals.

Completing the top five are Magnolia big man Ian Sangalang with 32.3 SPs and San Miguel guard CJ Perez with 31.5 SPs.

San Miguel’s Arwind Santos (30.5), NorthPort’s Jamie Malonzo (30.2), San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo (29.8), Ginebra’s Christian Standhardinger (29.5), and Phoenix’s Jayson Perkins (29.4) round out the top 10. – Rappler.com