Sep 25, 2024

Governors' Cup elims: Tolentino, Fajardo, Bolick brightest local performers

NORTHPORT'S Arvin Tolentino, San Miguel Beer's June Mar Fajardo and NLEX's Robert Bolick shone brightest among the locals in key statistical departments during the PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup eliminations.

Tolentino, who accounted for a career-high 51 points in the Batang Pier's 135-109 rout of Converge on Aug, 29, emerged as the top home-grown scorer with an average of 23.7 points in 10 appearances.

A member of the Mythical First Team in Season 48, Tolentino showcased his offensive skills by shooting 59 percent from two-point territory, 34.78 percent from the three-point arc and 20 percent from the extended four-point line. He also landed in the Top 3 of rebounding with 8.3 boards per game average and ranked ninth in assists with 4.3 and fifth in shot blocks with 0.9.

Eight-time MVP Fajardo logged a 21.3 markers for No. 2 behind top gunner Tolentino while being the only Pinoy with a double-digit rebound average of 15.

After Tolentino and Fajardo, the other premier scorers were SMB's CJ Perez (20.5), Bolick (20.4) and Ginebra's Japeth Aguilar (19.5).

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Tailing Fajardo in the rebounds' list were Terrafirma's Christian Standhardinger (8.67), Tolentino, Meralco's injured guard Aaron Black (7.5) and NLEX's Javee Mocon (7.33)
Bolick, who sat at ninth in rebounding with 6.9, was tops in dimes with 6.2 ahead of Magnolia's Marc Barroca (6.2), Ginebra's Scottie Thompson (5.9), Perez (5.3) and Terrafirma's Stanley Pringle (5.11).

NorthPort's Joshua Munzon, a member of the PBA All Defensive team last season, played true to form and averaged a leading 2.8 steals per game, while Zav Lucero, unraveling his potential with new team Magnolia, was the premier shot blocker with 1.3.

Joining Munzon in the Top 5 of steals were TNT duo RR Pogoy (2.13) and Kelly Williams (1.75), Barroca (1.7) and last year's Most Improved Player Jhonard Clarito of Rain or Shine (1.6).

Giving Lucero chase in swatting away opponents' shots were Meralco's Brandon Bates (1.1), TNT's Henry Galinato (1.0), ROS' Keith Datu (1.0) and Tolentino.

Among the imports, Blackwater's George King set the scoring standard with his 40.29-point average.
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A close No. 2 behind King, owner of a 69-point game, was NLEX's DeQuan Jones with 40 in three games. Jones was followed by Maurice Johns, who shot 36 in his lone appearance for NorthPort, and SMB's second import, Jordan Adams with 36.

ROS' Aaron Fuller was the leading rebound-getter with 17 ahead of Johns (16), Phoenix's first import Jayveous McKinnis (14.5) and King (13.14).

Johns' nine dimes put him at the summit of assists ahead of TNT's Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (6.22) and Ginebra's Justin Brownlee (5.8).

Adams showed the way in steals with 2.75 followed by RHJ with 2.67. Hollis-Jefferson led the shot blocks department with 2.11 ahead of Brownlee (1.2). (OL)