Here are the players who made the biggest impact on May 27 and the stats to prove it.
TOP PERFORMERS OF THE DAY:
Patrick Yousef Gardner MER C 20 PTS | 13 REB | 3 AST | 42.1 FPS
This was a solid debut for the new Meralco import. He delivered on offense, shooting 5-for-10 from two-point range and also adding three three-pointers, showcasing his elite upside as a scorer. He also made his mark on the boards, leading all players in rebounding. The only downside to his game was the fouls.
Javee Mocon MER SF 13 PTS | 10 REB | 1 BLK | 34.0 FPS
Mocon stood out in a huge way today, delivering a brilliant fourth-quarter performance. He was excellent on offense, scoring 12 points in that period while also securing crucial rebounds to help the team secure the win. The veteran has definitely become a major asset for Meralco in this series, and he should be able to carry the same impact into Game 5.
Roger Ray Pogoy TNT SF 14 PTS | 6 REB | 2 STL | 27.2 FPS
Turnovers have been a major issue for Pogoy in Game 4, as he finished with a conference-worst six. Regardless, it was still a solid bounce-back from Game 3. He was effective on offense, especially from deep, going 2-for-2, while also making quality contributions in the secondary categories. So far in this series, Pogoy has really stepped up and the team will need him to do it again in Game 5.
Earl Scottie Thompson GIN SF 20 PTS | 3 AST | 1 STL | 26.9 FPS
With how well he has been playing in the playoffs, this is clearly one of his least productive performances. Despite that, he has continued to stand out on offense, shooting efficiently from all levels for his consecutive 20-point outing and finishing as the game’s second-leading scorer. With his improvement on offense, Thompson is definitely causing a lot of problems for Rain or Shine in the next games.
Japeth Paul Aguilar GIN C 10 PTS | 10 REB | 1 STL | 26.5 FPS
This was another strong game for Aguilar, who led all players in offensive rebounds and finished with his second double-double of the tournament. Though he has struggled for most of the conference, he has come alive at just the right time, averaging 10.3 points and 9.7 rebounds over the last three games.
Jordan Timothy Heading TNT SG 15 PTS | 5 REB | 5 AST | 26.5 FPS
Since the start of the month, Heading has struggled mightily on offense. But he has found some rhythm in this matchup, posting his third double-digit scoring performance in four games. He was highly effective today, going a perfect 3-for-3 from two and also hitting three three-pointers. This should help him build momentum moving forward.
Brandon Arnell Ganuelas-Rosser TNT C 14 PTS | 4 REB | 1 BLK | 26.3 FPS
BGR was dominant to open Game 4, scoring 10 big points in the first quarter. He was just as impactful in other categories, finishing with a complete stat line while also recording zero turnovers. After scoring zero points in each of his first two games of the series, BGR has responded in a huge way over their last two games.
Crispin John Cansino MER SF 17 PTS | 2 REB | 2 STL | 24.9 FPS
In the early weeks of the conference, Cansino has been a force offensively, recording four games with at least 19 points. However, his production has been mostly subpar since then, and it has been worse in his last two games, during which he averaged just 6.5 points on 4-for-18 shooting. Today, however, he delivered, shooting 5-for-9 from two-point range and also knocking down a big four-point shot in the fourth to help secure the win.
Clifford Marion Hodge MER PF 8 PTS | 7 REB | 4 AST | 23.4 FPS
This was a well-rounded showing for the forward. In scoring, he was effective going 4-for-8 on two-pointers while finishing second in assists. On the boards, he was just as impressive, leading both teams in offensive rebounds. While he’s undeniably capable of producing at this level, his inconsistency has been a major issue.
Adrian Clarence Nocum ROS SG 11 PTS | 3 AST | 1 BLK | 22.9 FPS
Offensively, Nocum has been lethal in this series, averaging 17.7 points in the first three games. While he was clearly below that standard today, he remained effective, shooting 4-for-6 from the field and leading all bench players in scoring.
Jayson Castro TNT PG 8 PTS | 5 AST | 1 STL | 19.7 FPS
The veteran guard was back in the lineup today after being sidelined over the last two games with a knee issue. He picked up where he left off, providing a huge boost offensively by hitting two threes and finishing with a team-high in assists. This level of production is going to be significant for TNT in this matchup.
Rhon Jay Abarrientos GIN PG 8 PTS | 3 REB | 3 AST | 19.1 FPS
For the first time in the tournament, the sophomore guard has failed to reach the double digit scoring mark. He looked really off in Game 4, shooting just 3-for-8 from the field while also committing three turnovers. Still, RJ has been incredibly impressive this conference, and he is more likely than not to have a better performance in Game 5.
Christian Manaytay ROS C 11 PTS | 3 REB | 1 AST | 16.1 FPS
Manaytay came through offensively today, shooting 4-for-5 from two while also knocking down a three-pointer for his third double-digit scoring game of the tournament. Through four games in this matchup, he has become a key part of the rotation, and that should only continue in the games ahead.
Vincent Joshua David ROS SG 8 PTS | 2 REB | 1 STL | 14.9 FPS
David has been largely out of the rotation in the playoffs, but he was inserted into the starting lineup today and made his presence felt, hitting two threes while also doing a solid job on defense. For most of the conference, the rookie guard has been a positive presence and is quickly becoming an asset to the team.
Norman Aaron Black MER SG 12 PTS | 5-8 FG | 12.0 FPS
Despite the limited playing time, Black has still provided a positive impact in this matchup. Today, though, he came up big offensively, finishing with a new conference high in scoring. This is exactly the kind of production that the team will need from him moving forward.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE DAY:
Calvin Oftana TNT SF 10 PTS | 2 REB | 1 AST | 12.9 FPS
It was an underwhelming performance, to say the least. Oftana couldn’t get anything going in Game 4, finishing with his lowest-scoring game of the playoffs while also making minimal impact in the secondary categories. Still, he’s been more reliable than not throughout the conference and should be able to bounce back in Game 5.
