Slaugther, Fajardo lead BPC race

MANILA, Philippines – Barangay Ginebra starting slotman Greg Slaughter and two-time league MVP June Mar Fajardo are currently engaged in a toe-to-toe battle for the Best Player award in the season-opening Smart Bro-PBA Philippine Cup.

 

But between the two, Slaughter appears even more motivated this season as evidenced in his PBA career-best numbers of 22.8 points, 15.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists, halfway through the single-round eliminations of the All-Filipino conference.

 

The 6-foot-11 Ginebra big man amassed 43.8 statistical points to lead the pack in the BPC, helping the Kings climb to an even 3-3 win-loss record after a slow start this conference.

 

Fajardo, San Miguel’s imposing slotman, is at close second with 42.7 SPs as the Beermen currently lead the standings with their impressive 5-1 card.

 

Not far behind are NLEX front court partners Sean Anthony and Asi Taulava, who averaged 41.2 and 40.4 SPs, respectively.

 

Anthony, the undersized 6-foot-4 Fil-Canadian forward, is actually coming off a career-high 32-point effort last weekend to help NLEX secure a 107-101 come-from-behind win over fancied Talk ‘N Text.

 

Currently at fifth spot in the BPC race is last year’s Rookie of the Year Stanley Pringle of GlobalPort with 37.6 while Talk ‘N Text’s speedy guard Jayson Castro is at sixth (35.6).

 

Rounding up the top 10 are Alaska’s hulking forward Vic Manuel (33.0), San Miguel Beer’s Alex Cabagnot (32.3), GlobalPort’s youthful gunner Terrence Romeo (31.8) and veteran forward Willy Wilson of Barako Bull (31.5).