A LITTLE over a month into the PBA's 50th season, an unlikely group of five players is leading the league in scoring.
Freak start of portent of things to come?
Let's see, but for now let's admire a scoring list that had none of the usual suspects and instead had the Titan duo Calvin Abueva and Joshua Munzon, Blackwater's Sedrick Barefield and RK Ilagan, and Magnolia cast-off Jerrick Ahanmisi of Terrafirma.
Barefield, a former No. 2 pick overall who lost the yearend Rookie of the Year award to Barangay Ginebra's RJ Abarrientos, currently leads the league in scoring with a 23.8-point average through five games for the Bossing.
The Fil-Am guard also leads the league in three-pointers made with 18 on a 36.73-percent clip (18-of-49). He's making 47.73% inside the arc (21-of-44) and not surprisingly leads the league in field-goals made with 39 baskets at 7.8 a game.
His Blackwater teammate Ilagan ranks third on the scoring list with a 22-point average through two games before being sidelined by a meniscus strain. The former San Sebastian guard also leads the league in four-pointers made (3) and steals (5).
'Beast' unleashed
Equally impressive is Abueva, who is riding a resurgence with rookie team Titan Ultra. 'The Beast' is second in the league in scoring with a 22.4 average through five games and seventh in rebounding with 10.2 an outing.
However, Abueva also leads the league in turnovers with 18, a by-product of the nature of the 'Beast's' game.
Another Titan standout, Munzon, ranks fourth in scoring with a 21-point average over six games. The do-it-all Fil-Am guard also leads the league in free throws made with 47 in total at 7.83 a game.
At No. 5 is Ahanmisi, who is averaging 19.5 points for the lowly Dyip since arriving in a trade with Magnolia for Javi Gomez de Liano. He is also fifth in three-pointers made with 14 through six games and 10th in four-pointers made with five.
Rounding out the Top 10 in scoring are nine-time MVP June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel at No. 6 (18.83), Alec Stockton of Converge at No. 7 (18.23), Justin Arana of Converge 8th at 17.83 a game, Jason Perkins of Phoenix 9th (17.17) and sophomore CJ Cansino of Meralco 10th at 17 points a game.
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