PBA: Bennie Boatwright now ahead in Best Import race, Christian Standhardinger still BPC frontrunner

Bennie Boatwright is now the Best Import of the Conference frontrunner. PBA Images (file photo) 

By Ivan Saldajeno

PASIG—Bennie Boatwright is now on top of the PBA Commissioner's Cup Best Import of the Conference race following the quarterfinal results.

Due to San Miguel making the semifinals and TNT getting eliminated in the quarterfinals, Boatwright overtook Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson at number one in the Best Import race even as Hollis-Jefferson was scratched out.

Boatwright, who was drawn comparison to Arwind Santos by coach Tim Cone ahead of the Beermen's semifinal clash against Barangay Ginebra, accumulated 66.8 average statistical points up to the quarterfinals, way ahead of the three imports who have been playing in the conference since the start.

Magnolia's Tyler Bey is second with 53.4 SPs, while Phoenix's Johnathan Williams is closely behind with 53.3.

Ginebra's Tony Bishop is fourth with 47.3 SPs.

Meanwhile, Gin King Christian Standhardinger remains on top of the Best Player of the Conference race and stretched its lead over NorthPort Batang Pier's Arvin Tolentino following the events that transpired in their quarterfinal match-up.

Standhardinger is now at 38.5 SPs, now 3.4 points ahead of Tolentino, who surprisingly sat out their quarterfinal game due to knee soreness.

Beerman CJ Perez is third with 34.7 SPs, while the TNT Tropang Giga's Calvin Oftana is fourth with 34.1.

Ginebra's Scottie Thompson rounds out the Top 5 with 32.1 SPs.

With NorthPort and TNT already knocked out, the BPC race could boil down between Standhardinger and Perez.

At the end of the semifinals, the votes from the media and the players will be tallied. 

Terrafirma's Stephen Holt and NorthPort's Cade Flores remain 1-2 in the Rookie of the Year race at the moment, but Phoenix making the semifinals opens a possibility for Ken Tuffin (third) and Ricci Rivero (fifth immediately behind Terrafirma's Kemark Carino) to overtake them at the top spot.

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