CALVIN Abueva solidifies his bid for the Davco-PBA Best Player of the Conference plum after retaining the top spot in the race for the Philippine Cup top individual honor by the end of the semifinals.
The Magnolia forward accumulated an average of 34.2 statistical points after the Hotshots booked a berth in the best-of-seven finals by eliminating no. 2 seed Meralco Bolts in six games.
In 19 outings he played in his first season with the Purefoods franchise, the 'Beast' averaged a double-double of 15.2 points and 10.0 rebounds, while adding 2.8 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.1 block shots.
Magnolia teammate Ian Sangalang looms as the biggest threat to Abueva's bid in winning his second BPC Award since the 2016 Commissioner's Cup, as the 6-foot-7 slotman currently ranks third with 33.0 sps.
The 29-year-old Sangalang lags behind prolific NorthPort guard Robert Bolick, who sits in second spot with 33.7 sps, but whose personal bid suffered a heavy blow following the early ouster of the Batang Pier in the quarterfinals where they lost to San Miguel.
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Sangalang has been a steady presence for the Hotshots in the middle, averaging 16.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in helping the team reached the all-Filipino finals for the third time in the last four years.
Rookie Mikey Williams fell from second place to no. 4 after struggling early in TnT Tropang Giga's semifinals series against San Miguel.
The 28-year-old Fil-Am guard totaled 32.0 sps behind averages of 16.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.4 assists in 18 games, though he played his best game of the series when it mattered most, tallying 20 points, eight rebounds, and six assists as TnT slammed the door on the Beermen, 97-79, Sunday in their do-or-die encounter.
Six-time MVP June Mar Fajardo closed out the top 5 candidates for the individual honor, with 31.8 sps. He submitted double-double norms of 13.5 points and 10.8 rebounds for the Beermen. (RG)
