By REYNALD MGALLON
Barangay Ginebra big man Christian Standhardinger seized the lead in the Best Player of the Conference race while TNT import Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson took the top spot in the Best Import DERBY at the end of the eliminations of the 2023-’24 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Standhardinger collected 38.0 statistical points to dislodge San Miguel star June Mar Fajardo who took the top spot of the BPC race midway through the eliminations.
An impressive average 17.3 points, 9.6 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.2 steals in 11 games with the third-seeded Kings along with the hand injury to Fajardo that forced him to miss six weeks, allowed Standhardinger to take the pole position.
SMB guard CJ Perez came in second with 35.2 SPs through averages of 16.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.8 assists as he also picked up the slack in Fajardo’s absence for the second seed Beermen.
Fast-rising stars Arvin Tolentino of NorthPort, Calvin Oftana of TNT and Scottie Thompson of Ginebra crowded Standhardinger and Perez in the top spot.
Tolentino, the league’s leading local scorer with 22.7 point on top of his 5.7 rebounds garnered 35.1 SPs to land at the third while Oftana followed closely with 35.0 SPs after taking the mantle in the injury-plague Tropang Giga with 21.9 points and 6.6 rebounds.
Thompson wound up with 32.5 SPs following a usual all-around game of 11.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 7.6 assists.
Meanwhile, Hollis-Jefferson is following in the footsteps of brother, Rondae, a Best Import awardee in the Governors’ Cup of last conference, after leading the way in the statistical race.
Rahlir amassed a total of 67.5 SPs in just two games with the Tropang Giga after scattering 42.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 2.5 steals. Not too far behind though is Beermen reinforcement Bennie Boatwright who had 67.3 SPs behind averages of 40.3 points and 13.3 rebounds.
still in contention for the plum are Meralco import Shonn Miller at the third with 55.0 SPs (27.0 points and 17.3 rebounds) and Phoenix’s Johnathan Williams with 54.6 SPs (27.0 points, 15. 6 rebounds, and 5.5 assists).
Completing the Top 10 in BPC race are Maverick Ahanmisi at the sixth with 31.3 SPs followed by the Magnolia backcourt duo of Jio Jalalon and Mark Barroca with 31.2 and 29.2 SPs, respectively.
Chris Newsome of Meralco occupied ninth spot with 28.4 SPs while Jason Perkins completed the Top 10 with 27.33 SPs.
