Quinahan surges ahead in PBL MVP derby

A fresh start and a new team were all Joseph Quinahan needed to show his true worth.

Acquired by Mail and More from the dispersal draft, Quinahan dished out superb games in the early going of the PBL Silver Cup to pace the MVP statistical race with an efficiency rating points of 18.71.

The former University of Visayas hotshot averaged a league best 3.14 blocks and third best 14.71 points and 9.43 rebounds to power the Comets to five wins in seven outings for a share of second spot with the Hapee Teeth Sparklers.

Henkel-Sista Super Sealers show the way with a 6-2 (win-loss) slate.

"When we picked him (Quinahan) from the dispersal draft, we know he’s the one," said Mail and More coach Lawrence Chongson. "And he has proven that he deserves it."

A point off the pace was rookie Sam Ekwe, the Nigerian behemoth who led the San Beda Red Lions to this year’s NCAA championship.

Ekwe topped the league in rebounds heading to the holiday break with 11.86 boards and was second best in blocks with 2.43 while averaging 9.86 points.

The 2006 NCAA rookie MVP, however, has failed in his desire to rally the team as the Spinners dropped six of their first eight games to remain in the lower half of the field.

Toyota Otis’ hardworking forward Dennis Daa is in third with 16.86 efficiency rating while Cebuana Lhuillier-Pera Padala’s rookie center Ken Bono is in fourth with a 15.71 rating.

Daa has averaged 13.14 points and 8.43 rebounds as the Sparks picked up four wins against three losses while Bono, this year’s UAAP MVP, piled up 17 points (No.1), 6.14 boards and 1.3 assists per game.

Rounding up the top five was 2006 NCAA Finals MVP Yousif Aljamal of Magnolia Ice Cream, who has 13.63 rating by averaging 13.2 points (No. 4) and 6.4 rebounds.

The efficiency rating was computed by adding the points scored, 2-pt., 3-pt. field goals and free throws made, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks minus the 2-pt., 3-pt. field goals and free throws attempted and turnovers. — Joey Villar