AS expected, a familiar name leads the race for the Best Player of the Conference award, but a fierce rival is not far behind after the elimination round of the 2015-16 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup.
Two-time and reigning Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo of defending champion San Miguel Beer continues to reign supreme as he is the leading candidate for the Best Player of the Conference plum, while his longtime rival big man Greg Slaughter of Barangay Ginebra is close on his tail.
The Beermen superstar tallied a league-best 45.6 average statistical points (SPs) at the end of the 11-game eliminations. That average was just a shade above Slaughter’s as the Gin Kings’ go-to guy has compiled 45.3 SPs.
While Fajardo leads in statistical points, Slaughter is the league leader in both points and rebounds per game.
Slaughter averaged 23.5 points and 15 rebounds per game to lead all players, while Fajardo, in those categories, are just a shade below with his 23.1 points and 14.4 rebounds per game average as the their statistics are like a mirror of one another’s.
These two dominant inside forces, who are rivals since their college days in Cebu, are now in a neck-to-neck battle for the award the rest of the way with the others on the outside looking in.
A distant third is the emerging Sean Anthony from NLEX. He compiled 37.4 SPs while rising star Stanley Pringle of GlobalPort is very close at No. 4 at 37.3.
Rounding out the top five players for the elimination round is the ageless Asi Taulava of the Road Warriors with his 35.9 average.
Should Fajardo go all the way once again, another BPC award will be his fourth overall in his career and second straight.
As for the Rookie of the Year chase, second pick Troy Rosario continues to prove his worth and as he leads all newcomers.
The lanky forward of Talk ‘N Text leads all rookies with an average 28.0 SPs while his teammate and top overall pick Mo Tautuaa is right behind him at second with a 23.5 average.
At third is Rain or Shine rookie Maverick Ahanmisi, who continues to do a fine job in filling the void left by injured painters star Paul Lee with a 21.5 average.
Also in the top five are Blackwater forward Arthur Dela Cruz at fourth with his 19.7 average, while Meralco’s athletic spitfire Chris Newsome and surprising Mahindra big man Bradwyn Guinto are tied at No. 5 with a similar 19.6 average.