WHAT a difference five days made.
NLEX star Robert Bolick stood initially as the frontrunner for the PBA Philippine Cup Best Player of the Conference after the eliminations last Wednesday.
Nearly one week later, Bolick found his bid for the coveted plum in peril after the Road Warriors absorbed an 81-100 loss to the Meralco Bolts in Game 2 of their best-of-3 quarterfinals showdown last Sunday night.
The loss all but ended NLEX’s campaign in the season-ending tilt–a big dampener to Bolick since statistical points are included until the semifinals.
Top rookie pick Stephen Holt is behind Bolick for the BPC award.
Bolick totaled 44.5 statistical points behind his league-leading 27.4 points and 7.0 assists along with 5.6 rebounds.
The 6-foot-4 Holt amassed 41.5 SPs built on all-around numbers of 21.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 2.5 steals after the elims. He is also the runaway leader in the race for the Rookie of the Year with 41.5 SPs, way ahead of second placer NorthPort’s Zavier Lucero with 24.8 SPs.
Reigning seven-time MVP and nine-time BPC winner June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel Beer is running third, leading the pro league in rebounding with 14.1 average along with 16.0 points and 2.8 assists.
Also making a big jump in the top 10 is Ginebra big man Christian Standhardinger with 38.9 SPs. The 6-foot-8 Fil-German averaged 19.9 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 5.1 assists as he placed at No. 4 spot from No. 10 halfway through the eliminations.
Beerman CJ Perez tallied 38.7 SPs to make it to the top five. Winner of the BPC in the Commissioner’s Cup, the SMB star normed 21.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.3 steals.
Arvin Tolentino of Northport was the biggest casualty in the derby after the Batang Pier failed to reach the Last Eight.
Tolentino fell from second to the sixth spot with 36.4 SPs with numbers of 21.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 4.2 assists.
Completing the top 10 are Calvin Oftana of TNT with 35.5 SPs, the Rain or Shine pair of Santi Santillan (34.8 SPs) and Beau Belga (33.7 SPs), and Magnolia’s Ian Sangalang (32.6 SPs).
