Statistics race heats up

MANILA, Philippines — NorthPort’s Arvin Tolentino, San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo and NLEX’s Robert Bolick led the key statistical departments after the initial salvo in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

Tolentino paced all locals in scoring with 24.71 points per game as eight-time MVP Fajardo took pole position in rebounding with 17 per night and Bolick paced the assists area with 7.87 an outing.

The 6-foot-5 Tolentino has been on target for the league-leading Batang Pier (6-1), firing a high of 39 and a low of 17 en route to top spot in points production ahead of TNT’s Calvin Oftana (21.75), Bolick (21.67), Blackwater’s Sedrick Barefield (20.75) and Fajardo (19.8).

Fajardo flexed his muscle under the glass and had back-to-back games of 19 and 22 boards as he emerged as the only local on double-digit rebound average versus the likes of Meralco’s Raymond Almazan (9.33), Converge’s Justine Baltazar (8.4), Tolentino (8.0) and Eastern’s Hayden Blankley (7.75).

The 6-foot-10 giant’s rebounding acumen has also enabled him to overtake the 6,152 career boards of Magnolia team manager Alvin Patrimonio for No. 5 in the all-time list.

While overshadowed in scoring, Bolick continued to strengthen his status as a topnotch playmaker. He had a single-game high of 10 assists on his way to No. 1 in this aspect against Ginebra’s Scottie Thompson (7.33), Converge’s Jordan Heading (6.75), NorthPort’s Fran Yu (6.0) and Magnolia’s Mark Barroca (5.86).

TNT veteran Jayson Castro was tops in steals with 3.0 followed by NorthPort’s Joshua Munzon (2.43) and William Navarro (2.29), SMB’s Jeron Teng (2.0) and Barroca (1.86) as Terrafirma’s Kemark Carino showed the way in shot blocks with 2.0 in front of Almazan (1.33), Navarro (1.29), Meralco’s Cliff Hodge  (1.2) and Tolentino (1.14).

Meanwhile, Blackwater’s George King bannered scoring among imports with 37.17 followed by Eastern’s Cameron Clark (32.5) and Meralco’s DJ Kennedy (32.0).

NLEX’ Mike Watkins set the standard for rebounds (23.5) and blocks (2.83), Rondae Hollis-Jefferson for assists (4.75) and Rain or Shine’s Deon Thompson for steals (2.5).