Abueva keeps pole position

MANILA, Philippines — Magnolia forward Calvin Abueva kept pole position in the PBA Best Player of the Conference derby at the end of the semifinals but found a major threat in surging teammate and pal Ian Sangalang.

Abueva maintained his No. 1 standing with 34.2 average statistical points built around an impressive line of 15.2 points, 10 rebounds, 2.8 assists, a steal and 1.1 blocks as the Hotshots clinched a seat to the 46th Philippine Cup best-of-seven finals.

While NorthPort’s Robert Bolick occupied second spot with 33.7 SPs, his team’s exit in the quarterfinal stage all but dampened his bid for the top individual plum.

This leaves third-running Sangalang as Abueva’s biggest rival. The 6-foot-7 Sangalang had 33.0 SPs in the latest tally, buoyed by his 16.7 markers, 8.8 boards and 1.4 dimes per outing.

TNT’s ace rookie Mikey Williams slipped to fourth from second after struggling in the early goings of the Tropang Giga’s Final Four duel with San Miguel. Williams had 32 SPs and accounted for 16.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists for finals-bound TNT.

Six-time MVP June Mar Fajardo, SMB’s comebacking behemoth who asserted himself in their failed semis run, rounded out the Top 5 with 31.8 SPs. Fajardo averaged 13.5 markers and 10 boards in his first tournament since sustaining a shin injury in February 2020.