Pringle enters Best Player poll

MANILA, Philippines — A decision to allow the highest-ranked players from each bubble finalist beyond the top five in statistical points has opened the door for Ginebra’s Stanley Pringle to make it a six-way battle for the PBA’s top honor in the virtual Awards Night on Jan. 17.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said yesterday the top five in statistical points plus the highest-placed players from finalists Ginebra and TNT, if not among the first five, are the candidates for the Best Player Award. PBA statistician Fidel Mangonon suggested the inclusion of one player each from the finalists if neither Ginebra nor TNT is represented in the top five.

At the end of the Clark conference, the top five in statistical points were TNT’s Bobby Ray Parks (38.2), Phoenix’ Calvin Abueva (37.1), Terrafirma’s C. J. Perez (35.7), Phoenix’ Matthew Wright (35.65) and TNT’s R. R. Pogoy (35.64). Because of their ranking, the five were automatically qualified for the Best Player Award. Since TNT is represented by Parks and Pogoy in the top five, the highest-ranked player from Ginebra joined the list of candidates and it turned out to be Pringle who was sixth in statistical points with 34.8.

Statistical points carry a 40 percent weight in the selection of Best Player. The other weights are 30 percent from media/press, 25 percent from players and five percent from the PBA Commissioner’s office. Since the 45th season featured only the Philippine Cup, there will be no MVP Award, only the Best Player. The MVP Award is given for a full season of two or three conferences.

Marcial said Cignal TV vice president for channels and content Sienna Olaso is in charge of staging the Awards Night for TV. “For now, I understand it will be virtual although the PBA Board of Governors will be represented in the studio and I will also be there,” he said. “The awards are Best Player, Outstanding Rookie, Most Improved Player, Sportsmanship and the Elite 5 or the mythical first team.”

The top 20 in statistical points will be considered for the Elite 5 – namely, in order, Parks, Abueva, Perez, Wright, Pogoy, Pringle, Christian Standhardinger, Japeth Aguilar, Scottie Thompson, Jason Perkins, Kiefer Ravena, Mo Tautuaa, Paul Lee, Chris Newsome, Jayson Castro, Arwind Santos, Vic Manuel, Kevin Alas, Poy Erram and Ian Sangalang. The Elite 5 will likely be composed of two guards and three frontcourt players. Candidates for Outstanding Rookie are Roosevelt Adams, Aaron Black, Barkley Ebona, Aris Dionisio and Arvin Tolentino. Vying for Most Improved Player honors are Perkins, Javee Mocon, Chua, Reynel Hugnatan, Raul Soyud and Prince Caperal. Candidates for the Sportsmanship Award are Abueva, Gabe Norwood, Thompson, Perez and Alas.

Marcial said voting began yesterday and will continue until Monday.  The PBA staff will contact the press/media and players for their votes. Abueva, who was reinstated during the bubble after a 1 1/2 year suspension, made good on his word to be at his best behavior and qualified for the Sportsmanship Award. Hugnatan, 42, is the oldest veteran to be considered for the Most Improved Player Award. He ranked No. 33 in statistical points and averaged 11.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 16 bubble games, compared to his norms of 6.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 0.7 assist in 11 games in the previous Philippine Cup.