MERCADO ELIMS SCORING & ASSISTS LEADER
Meralco’s Sol Mercado continued his bid to become the first player in 10 years to lead the locals in a conference in scoring and assists by maintaining his leadership in both categories at the close of the 2012-13 Philippine Cup eliminations.
The Bolts’ starting point guard averaged 19.2 points in his 14 games in the elims, a full point better than the 18.2 ppg of Barangay Ginebra leading scorer and the league’s reigning MVP, Mark Caguioa.
Mercado also dished off an average of 6.5 assists per game, best among all players and just ahead of the second-running 6.2 apg of Barako Bull’s two-time MVP Willie Miller.
Mercado’s former teammate at Meralco, Asi Taulava, was the last local player to lead the locals in a conference in scoring (21.3 ppg) and assists (5.4 apg) which he did with Mobiline in the 2002 All-Filipino Cup.
Jeffrei Chan of Rain or Shine ranked third in scoring with his 17.9 ppg, slightly better than the 17.7 of Petron Blaze’s Arwind Santos who continued to pace the rebounding category with his 12.1 boards per game.
Globalport’s Gary David, the league’s scoring leader in the last three seasons and in six of the last seven conferences, could only rank fifth in scoring this time with his 17.6 average in his eight games.
Mercado’s back-up point guard at Meralco, Chris Ross, was the elims top ball thief with his 2.1 a game while Santos and injured Barangay Ginebra forward Dylan Ababou led in shotblocks with their identical 1.5 swats a game.
In the shooting categories, Globalport rookie AJ Mandani was tops in field goal shooting with this 58.3% after making 42 of his 72 shots, Air21’s John Wilson was the best three-point shooter with his 42.1% (24 of 57) while San Mig Coffee big man Yancy de Ocampo was the top free throw shooter with his 93.6%, missing just twice in his 31 attempts from the 15-foot line. (FM)
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