Rondae Hollis-Jefferson gets 3rd PBA Best Import plum, Arvin Tolentino is BPC for Comm's Cup

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Arvin Tolentino are the top-performing individuals at this conference. PBA Images

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is the runaway winner of the PBA Commissioner's Cup Best Import award, while Arvin Tolentino finally captured his first Best Player of the Conference plum as announced Friday night before Game 4 of the finals at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

Hollis-Jefferson, who won the last two Best Import awards in the Governors' Cup, got the nod from the media and players aside from topping the statistical points race to win his first individual award in the mid-season conference and third overall.

The TNT forward garnered 1,280 points, way ahead of second placer Kadeem Jack of NorthPort, who got 825.

Ginebra's Justin Brownlee, who finished second in the player votes, was third with 670 points, while Rain Or Shine's Deon Thompson took fourth place with 633.

On the other hand, Tolentino got a huge lift from the media votes to edge the Tropang Giga's Calvin Oftana for the BPC award.

The Batang Pier's star winger, who was third in the SP race, got all but six first-place votes among reporters covering the PBA to score 1,072 points.

Oftana, who won the player votes, finished with 777 points to take second place, while June Mar Fajardo, despite San Miguel getting knocked out of playoff contention, took third place with 600 points mainly due to him topping the SP race.

NLEX's Robert Bolick is fourth with 540 points, while Converge rookie Jordan Heading is fifth with 419.

Both Hollis-Jefferson and Tolentino won PHP50,000 each from award sponsors Arena Plus and Pocari Sweat.

Follow him on X: @IvanSaldajeno