DIGOS CITY – Powerade scoring machine Gary David has taken a giant leap to emerge as a major
contender for the coveted Best Player of the Conference (BPC) honors following consistent
exceptional performances in the playoff phase of the PBA Philippine Cup.
With no less than seven 30-point showings in the playoffs, David jumped five rungs up to second
place in the statistical points race after the semifinal round where he powered his team past Rain
or Shine.
Another Powerade stalwart Marcio Lassiter, Petron Blaze stars Arwind Santos and Alex Cabagnot and
B-Meg main man James Yap were the others who landed in the Top Five, making the official list of
candidates for the BPC award.
Ending up just outside the Top Five were Talk n Text’s Jayson Castro, Barako Bull’s Willie
Miller, Rain or Shine’s Paul Lee, Alaska’s Sonny Thoss and Talk n Text’s Kelly Williams.
A virtual non-factor in the semifinals, Harvey Carey finished at 19th from fifth after the
quarterfinals.
The BPC winner will be named before Game Four of the Talk n Text-Powerade finale Friday at the Smart
Araneta Coliseum.
David is now considered the chief contender for the award for his sterling exploits that proved to
be the biggest factor in Powerade’s entry into the all-Filipino finals.
The former Lyceum Pirate leads everyone in scoring with an average of 24.6 points, almost five
points clear of second placer James Yap. (19.0).
In his most outstanding season as a pro, David once scattered 42 points in the elimination round and
scored no less than 24 in each of their nine games in the playoffs.
Santos, Petron’s regular double-double performer, could well be David’s top rival.
Going against Santos was the fact that he’s not able to carry his team to the finals.
After the semis, Santos was still the stats leader with 36.52 SPs a game although his number dropped
from 38.63 through the quarters.
From sixth with an average of 30.69, David, meanwhile, surged to second with a norm of 33.65.
Lassiter, the third draft pick behind Jvee Casio and Lee, also rallied from eighth to third (31.48).
Yap stayed at fourth (31.38) while Cabagnot slid to fifth (30.74) from third place.
Lassiter and Lee are the top rookies followed by Casio (24.45) Dylan Ababou (20.50) and James Sena
(20.50).
Petron’s Chris Lutz tallied a whopping average of 29.25 SPs but missed the list as he didn’t
meet the minimum requirement for games played. He missed seven of their 23 games due to an injury.
(SB)
PBA 101
