THE PBA Governors’ Cup is now history, with TNT Tropang Giga retaining their title after beating the Barangay Ginebra Kings in six games in their title series.
It’s been almost two weeks since the Tropang Giga scored the 95-85 title-clinching win before a crowd of 14,668 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
And with the mid-season Commissioner’s Cup set to kick off on Wednesday, this could be the proper time to refresh our memories and take a look at the Five Best Players, one in every position, during the league’s season-opener.
JUNE MAR FAJRDO (CENTER) – San Miguel may not have made it all the way to the finals, but Fajardo left no doubt that he was the most dominant force during the first conference, averaging a league-best 16.2 rebounds and 21.0 points (No. 2 overall). The eight-time MVP was just too dominant in the middle that he led the statistical points from start to finish on the way to a record-extending 11th Best Player of the Conference (BPC) award. The 6-foot-10 Cebuano came to the Beermen’s rescue when they found their backs against the wall opposite a gutsy Converge FiberXers side in their do-or-die Game 5 during the quarterfinals. Fajardo delivered a performance for the ages with 40 points and 24 rebounds in a tough 109-106 win at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. In the semis, he had to deal with Barangay Ginebra rival and close pal Japeth Aguilar and won their personal matchup, averaging 19.8 points and 14.0 rebounds to Aguilar’s 17.8 points and 5.8 rebounds. But the Kings won the war against the Beermen in six games to deny them a third straight Finals appearances.
Averages: 21.0 points, 16.2 rebounds, 1.0 blocks, 37.5 minutes
JAPETH AGUILAR (POWER FORWARD) – the season opener served as the renaissance of the 37-year-old Aguilar, who single-handedly carried the load manning the frontcourt for the Kings following the departure of Christian Standhardinger to Terrafirma. Despite little help, the 6-foot-9 power forward turned back the hands of time and played perhaps one of the best conferences in his PBA career. The resurgence earned Aguilar a shot at winning his first-ever BPC award, but could only finish runner-up to Fajardo.
Averages: 16.3 points, 6.0 rebounds
ARVIN TOLENTINO (FORWARD) – Northport failed to advance to the playoffs of the Governors’ Cup, but the Batang Pier had the most potent scorer in the entire league in Arvin Tolentino. The rising 29-year-old wingman led the league in scoring with a 23.7-point average and capped the conference by recording a career-best 51 points in a 135-109 win over Converge, becoming the first local player since Stanley Pringle to register a 50-point game in the last six years. He came in second behind Fajardo in statistical points (390) in the race for the BPC award. He also led all players in free throws made with a total of 59 and in minutes played with a 38.5 average.
Averages: 23.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 38.5 minutes
CJ PEREZ (SHOOTING GUARD) – It’s not exactly the best conference performance for the former NCAA MVP out of Lyceum, but still good enough to be in the Top 5. The 31-year-old Perez is still the next best player in a San Miguel uniform behind Fajardo, averaging a fifth-best 17.5 points in scoring to contend for another BPC award. The other half of the 1-2 punch of the Beermen also showed the other facets of his game by finishing No. 4 in assists with a 5.4 average, sixth in steals with 1.3, and was the best Beerman from the four-point line, converting a total of eight (No. 10) at a 34-percent shooting clip.
Averages: 17.5 points, 5.4 assists, 1.3 steals
ROBERT BOLICK (POINT GUARD) – the NLEX playmaker was the top assists man for the conference with an 8.2 average, making him the hands down choice as the best in the point guard position. The former San Beda standout also ranked third in scoring with 19.07 points while shooting at a 60-percent clip from two-point range and 79 percent from the foul line. He also ranked No.2 as the most exposed player by averaging 38.30 minutes per game. Too bad, he fell short again of winning a maiden BPC title.
Averages: 19.07 points, 6.1 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 38.30 minutes
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
SCOTTIE THOMPSON – 13.28 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.08 steals, 36.24 minutes
ALEC STOCKTON – 15.27 points, 4.0 assists, 127 steals, 32.50 minutes
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