NLEX ACE Robert Bolick holds the early lead in the PBA Governors’ Cup Best Player of the Conference (BPC) derby but faces a powerhouse chase pack led by Converge’s Big 3.
Mr. Bolick rolled to the pole position at the end of the group stages with a 37.1 average statistical points (SPs) built around 17.2 markers, 5.4 rebounds and 8 assists per game for the Group A topnotcher Road Warriors.
Terrafirma veteran Maverick Ahanmisi, who had his resurgence in the import-flavored conference and accounted for a league-best 8.5 dimes to go with 16.3 points and 7.6 rebounds, took the No. 2 spot with 35.7 SPs.
But with Mr. Ahanmisi and the Dyip out of the playoffs, the troika of Justin Arana (34.7), Justine Baltazar (34.2) and Juan Gomez de Liaño (33.8) are expected to give Mr. Bolick the biggest threat with the FiberXers playing in the quarterfinals as well.
San Miguel Beermen (SMB) titan June Mar Fajardo, who won his 13th BPC in the season-opening Philippine Cup, sat at No. 6 with 33.5 SPs followed by Mr. Bolick’s NLEX teammate Schonny Winston (32.6), Magnolia’s Zav Lucero (32.4), Rain or Shine’s Adrian Nocum (32.3) and SMB’s CJ Perez (30.3).
Running outside the Top 10 were TNT’s Rey Nambatac (30.2), Blackwater’s Sedrick Barefield (29.6), Converge’s Calvin Abueva (28.9), SMB’s Don Trollano (28.8) and Terrafirma’s Juami Tiongson (28.4).
NLEX import Deonte Burton, meanwhile, grabbed the pace for Best Import honors with 55 SPs ahead of SMB counterpart George King (53.1), Meralco’s Jordon Varnado (52.7), Converge’s Cameron Clark (48.8), Blackwater’s Kentrell Barkley (47.6), and Ginebra’s Jordan Murphy (47). Rondae Hollis-Jefferson ranked seventh with 45.5 as he saw action in TNT’s last two games of the elims coming off a 10-month layoff. -— Olmin Leyba