THE TOP FIVE PBA POINT GUARDS AS OF NOVEMBER 7, 2014
The new PBA season is upon us, and, frankly, this has been one of the most exciting starts in recent memory. Of course, a big part of that is having two new pro clubs – the Blackwater Elite and the Kia Sorento – but we also cannot look past other things that have hogged the headlines, like the superb play of some PBA playmakers. Not surprisingly, this includes veteran stars like Mark Barroca, Alex Cabagnot, and Jayson Castro, but it has actually been Fil-Am rookie Stanley Pringle who has made the biggest splash.
Without further ado, here they are – the top five point guards of the 2015 PBA season as of November 7, 2014 (as always, this is based on the Player Efficiency ratings)
- Jayson Castro (TNT) – 13.3ppg, 3.8rpg, 5.0apg, 1.3spg, 1.3 triples per game, .333 3pt%, 28.8 EFF
The Blur started the season well, dropping 19 points on the Gin Kings, but his scoring has gone down for each succeeding game, culminating in his putting just 9 markers in TNT’s latest win over ROS. Still, Castro continues to be one of the league’s deadliest penetrators, and his shooting from beyond the arc has been relatively sharp, too. He’ll no doubt get into the groove of things, and once that happens, then watch out.
- Denok Miranda (BAR) – 16.0ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.3apg, 1.3spg, 1.0bpg, 1.0 triples per game, .333 3pt%, .486 FG% – 31.5 EFF
The former FEU Tamaraw has blossomed into the de facto go-to-guy for the Energy, who are not exactly the deepest team in the tournament. He leads his squad in scoring, assists, steals, and BLOCKED SHOTS. Not bad for a point guard, eh? Those who have been following him ever since his days in San Miguel/Petron shouldn’t be too surprised, though, since Miranda has never been short on effort or passion. All he really needed was time to shine, and now, it seems, he has exactly that.
- Mark Barroca (PUR) – 14.7ppg, 5.0rpg, 3.3apg, 1.3spg, 1.0bpg, .667 3pt%, 34.2 EFF
With his team walking wounded, Barroca has had to take on a more proactive approach, especially in terms of offense. He is norming a career-best 14.7 points per game right now, which is exactly what coach Tim Cone needs as star shooter James Yap is still nursing an injury. In the Hotshots’ only victory so far, Barroca was the main man, scoring 25 points on top of 6 rebounds and 2 dimes. He got to the line 12 times and made 11. What does that say? It’s a testament to the depth of this team, while also showing off Barroca’s immense star potential.
- Alex Cabagnot (GLO) – 18.7ppg, 7.0rpg, 2.3apg, 1.3spg, .409 3pt%, 3.0 triples per game – 37.3 EFF
Cabagnot is set to turn 32 in December, but he is by no means over the hump. The veteran floor general has never averaged more than 13 points per game in his past nine pro seasons, but he’s really showcasing his whole repertoire here, dropping nearly 19 markers a game as the Batang Pier have displayed a renewed identity. He also leads the team in rebounding (!) and three-pointers made per game (3.0). When he was dealt away from Petron last season, a lot of people saw that as his career’s death-knell, but it surely seems like the opposite has happened. Look for Cabaggie to continue being fired up for the rest of the season.
- Stanley Pringle (GLO) – 16.5ppg, 6.5rpg, 4.3apg, 2.3spg, .500 3pt%, .481 FG%, 1.3 triples per game – 38.3 EFF
If you still have any doubts about the talents of this kid, then you haven’t been watching the PBA. The former Indonesia Warrior is making half of his threes, nearly 50% of his field goals while also handing out more than 4 assists per outing. In short, Pringle has proven, so far, to be the total package and the real deal. He has the potential to be the kind of guy who can carry a team on his shoulders for several games, and is certainly the hands-down favorite for Rookie of the Year honors. Of course, whether GlobalPort can actually maximize his potential is another thing altogether.
Outside looking in:
Jonas Villanueva (BAR) – 27.4 EFF
Kevin Alas (TNT) – 26.1 EFF
Paul Lee (ROS) – 26.0 EFF
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