MANILA – So far, so good. But Vic Manuel of Alaska Aces will definitely be in a much better standing if he wins the Best Player of the Conference award.
With 37.2 statistical points, Manuel – for the first time in his career – is the frontrunner in the BPC race in the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup.
The 30-year-old forward is having an excellent run in the midseason so far.
He averaged 24.18 points, 6.27 rebounds, 1.0 assists, .82 steals, and .64 blocks by the end of the eliminations.
For 10 straight games Manuel would breach the 20-point mark – including his 35-point explosion against Magnolia Hotshots on June 10.
His showing greatly helped Alaska notch a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.
The 6-foot-4 Manuel and the Aces will face the Hotshots again Tuesday, July 10 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The list of BPC contenders was released Monday.
Reigning and four-time league Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel Beermen came in close second with 36.8 SPs.
The star Beerman averaged 19.64 points, a league-leading 11.36 rebounds, and 1.55 assists.
GlobalPort Batang Pier teammates Sean Anthony (35.4 SPs) and Stanley Pringle (35.0 SPs) and Chris Newsome of Meralco Bolts (33.5 SP) round out the top five.
Meanwhile Phoenix Fuel Masters import Eugene Phelps is leading the conference’s Best Import race.
Phelps, who came in early this conference to replace James White, averaged 29.8 points, 18.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 2.0 blocks, and 1.0 steals in the seven games he had played.
Behind him is Renaldo Balkman. A major piece in the Beermen’s trip to the quarterfinals after a dismal start, the 6-foot-8 forward averaged 29.4 points, 13.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 2.9 blocks, and 2.1 steals in nine games.
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings’ Justin Brownlee ranked fifth.
As he helped Ginebra become the hottest team heading into the playoffs with five straight wins, Brownlee averaged 26.3 points, 12.8 rebounds and 6.4 dimes.
Others on the top five were John Fields of Columbian Dyip and Diamon Simpson of Alaska Aces. (Tiebreaker Times/PN)
