Abueva takes home first BPC award; Onuaku hailed as Best Import

PBA

By Julian Reyes

QUEZON CITY--'The Beast' is the best.

Calvin Abueva of Alaska Aces snared his first-ever Best Player of the Conference plum, claiming the title before the Game Four of the finals of the 2016 PBA Commissioner's Cup.

Averaging 17.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.4 steals per game in the entire conference, the 6-foot-3 swingman snagged the elusive award after tallying a culminated 1,150 points.

Abueva ranked third in the statistical points with 413 but chosen unanimously by the media (493) and got majority first place votes from players (94) and league officials (150) to finish ahead of Barangay Ginebra's center Greg Slaughter who gained a total of 752.

Globalport's Terrence Romeo finished third with 488 while former BPC awardee Jayson Castro of Tropang TNT had 482 for the fourth spot.

Carlo Lastimosa completed the top five list with 378 points.

The product of the San Sebastian Golden Stags led the locals of Alaska as well as the entire team to its fifth PBA finals appearance in the league's last six.

As of writing, the Aces and Rain or Shine are still playing in the Game Four of their Best-of-Seven series with the former looking to avoid a sweep as it trails, 0-3.

Meanwhile, Meralco Bolts reinforcement Arinze Onuaku salvaged the Bobby Parks Best Import award after garnering a total of 1,132 points.

The 6-foot-9 big man averaged 15.5 points and 15.3 rebounds a night, enough to weather the challenge of late-comers Pierre Henderson-Niles of Rain or Shine who compiled 871 points and Alaska's Rob Dozier who had 692.

Onuaku spearheaded the Norman Black-mentored Meralco squad to a semis appearance, but fell short to Abueva and Alaska in their deciding fifth game.

Meralco's final four finish was a big bounce back after the team finished last in the preceding Philippine Cup, scoring just a single win.

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