Abarrientos seen as Best Player of the Conference of Commissioner’s Cup

BARANGAY GINEBRA’S RJ Abarrientos looms as the top bet to capture the Best Player of the Conference (BPC) award of the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup in rites set before Game 4 on Wednesday.

Mr. Abarrientos ranked third in the statistical derby with 37.2 statistical points (SPs) after the semifinal cutoff period but his consistent, strong performances for finalist Ginebra gives him the edge against rivals whose teams didn’t go as deep in the playoffs.

He’s up against Robert Bolick of NLEX (38.9 SPs), June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel (38.6), Ricci Rivero of Phoenix (33.6) and Jerrick Ahanmisi formerly of Terrafirma (32.8). Mr. Bolick’s No. 1 team got the boot in the semifinals, losing twice, to TNT while Mr. Fajardo and Mr. Rivero’s squads failed to get past the quarterfinals. Mr. Ahanmisi, then playing for the Dyip, missed out the playoffs altogether.

Aside from stats, votes from fellow players and the media will be factored in to determine the BPC winner.

Meanwhile, Mr. Abarrientos’ teammate, Justin Brownlee, is tipped for the Best Import plum, his fourth overall, if ever.

With early frontrunner Bol Bol of TNT becoming ineligible following his exit in Game 2 of the semis due to injury, Mr. Brownlee grabbed pole position with 50.5 SPs ahead of Mr. Bol’s replacement Chris McCullough (49.3), Rain or Shine’s Jaylen Johnson (47.2) and Meralco’s Patrick Gardner (44.7). — Olmin Leyba