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| PBA (file photo) |
By Ivan Saldajeno
MANILA--Junemar Fajardo leads the pack in terms of statistical points as the PBA Philippine Cup elimination round drew to a close.
In a copy of the statistical points standings obtained by Dugout Philippines on Tuesday, the San Miguel slotman finished the eliminations at the top with 45.6 average SP's, barely edging fellow Cebuano beanpole Greg Slaughter. The Ginebra center had 45.3 average SP's after the first 11 games of the season-opening tournament.
Slaughter actually finished with the most number of total statistical points after the preliminary round, but a technical foul gave him a five-point deduction, putting Fajardo, who had a clean sheet technical and flagrant foul-wise, at number one entering the playoffs.
Fajardo averaged 23.1 points, 14.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.8 blocks, and 0.8 steal a game, while Slaughter finished the eliminations with a league-best 23.5 points and 15 rebounds a contest while adding 3.2 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 0.4 steal a match.
Fajardo's fellow Beerman Arwind Santos also cracked the top ten as he ended his elimination round campaign at tenth with 32.6 SP's.
On the other hand, NLEX's Sean Anthony, who showed a drastic improvement from last season, is third with 37.4 average SP's, while teammate Asi Taulava continues to show that age doesn't matter as he comes in at the fifth spot with 35.9.
Also showing better numbers from last year are Barako Bull's Willie Wilson, who will enter the knockout stages in sixth with 35.6 average SP's, and Alaska's Vic Manuel, who is seventh with 33.7.
GlobalPort's Stanley Pringle (fourth) and Terrence Romeo (ninth), Talk 'n Text's Jayson Castro (eighth) round up the top ten list.
Should the ranking hold on, Fajardo could end up winning another Best Player of the Conference pending the other factors like the votes from the press, the Commissioner's Office, and the players.
Meanwhile, a late stat-padding push from Troy Rosario put him on top of the rookie rankings after the eliminations.
The Talk 'n Text freshman, who is ranked 14th overall, is the best player SP-wise among the newcomers as he tallied 28 average SP's.
He finished the elimination round with averages of 15.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 0.9 assist, 0.5 block, and 0.4 steal a night.
Moala Tautuaa made it a 1-2 placing for the Tropang Texters in the top rookie race as he takes the second spot with 23.5 average SP's.
Mahindra's Bradwyn Guinto, who took off immediately, got a late slump that slipped him to a share of fifth spot with Meralco's Chris Newsome with 19.6 average SP's.
Rain Or Shine's Maverick Ahanmisi (21.5 average SP's) and Blackwater's Arth Dela Cruz (19.7) will enter their playoff assignment against each other third and fourth respectively.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
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