THE TOP FIVE #PBA2015 SMALL FORWARDS RIGHT NOW
Calvin Abueva has been tearing it up, so he’s definitely on this list, but who else joins him as the top swingmen of the PBA? Resident Gilas starting SF Gabe Norwood didn’t make the cut. So did the high-flying Chris Ellis and the sweet-shooting KG Canaleta. So who joins the Beast? Well, read on and find out.
Without further ado, here they are – the top five small forwards of the 2014-2015 PBA season as of November 12, 2014 (as always, this is based on the Player Efficiency ratings).
- Chris Lutz (SMB) – 10.8ppg, 4.6rpg, 2.6apg, 25.3 EFF
Lutz hasn’t exactly been spectacular for the Beermen, but they don’t need him to be. SMB has June Mar Fajardo, Arwind Santos, and Marcio Lassiter leading the team, and Lutz, so far, has been the perfect second-tier complement to those guys. His numbers are actually better this season compared to last season in terms of scoring, rebounding, FG%, and FT%. The only chink? He has yet to make a three after four games.
- JC Intal (BAR) – 13.0ppg, 4.3rpg, 1.0apg, 1.5 triples per game, .333 3pt%, 26.5 EFF
The Energy aren’t going to win many games this season (I see what you did there, Jeric Fortuna!), but they cannot pin any blame on JC Intal. He is by no means the best forward in the game, but he offers a decent balance of attacking aggressiveness and outside shooting that makes him a notch above the average joe. If the former Blue Eagle can continue playing at this rate, he will register the best season in his eight-year career (of course, getting married to Bianca Gonzalez kinda helps, too).
- Matt Rosser (TNT) – 9.0ppg, 6.8rpg, 2.8apg, 1.0bpg, 27.9 EFF
The season’s consensus #1 rookie is playing for GlobalPort, but the next two best freshies are both in TNT. One of those guys is Rosser, who has delivered on comparisons with Gabe Norwood. Rosser, in fact, has, so far, registered better numbers than Gabe. I mean, nearly 10 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and a block a game? It might not be too long before this kid becomes the most versatile perimeter defender in the country.
- Sean Anthony (MER) – 10.0ppg, 7.2rpg, 2.6apg, 1.8spg, 28.3 EFF
Anthony continues to build on his great performance from the previous season. The Fil-Canadian is currently dropping 10 markers an outing and pulling down a bit more than 7 boards, too. For a team that’s really deep up front with Jared Dillinger, Cliff Hodge, and Reynel Hugnatan, Meralco has found a way to make Anthony not just relevant, but effective. Like Lutz, though, Anthony has yet to make a three (he shot 31% from downtown last season), but if he does start knocking those down, then watch out.
- Calvin Abueva (ALA) – 17.0ppg, 13.2rpg, 2.0apg, 1.0spg, 40.7 EFF
And here we thought maybe Abueva had already left his best behind him. The former Golden Stag has just been all-around awesome this season. He’s doing everything, from scoring points, grabbing rebounds, making stops, embarrassing opponents, saving the Pasig River, to, uh, singing Huling El Bimbo (with Vic Manuel). I mean, this guy is the biggest reason the Aces are 5-0 and sitting atop the standings. Needless to say, if he can keep this up, then a BPOC citation and a conference title may not be too far off.
Outside looking in:
Mac Baracael (GIN) – 25.0 EFF
Joe Devance (PUR) – 24.3 EFF
Jared Dillinger (MER) – 21.7 EFF
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