Here are the players who made the biggest impact on July 19 and the stats to prove it.
TOP PERFORMERS OF THE DAY:
Rey Benedict Nambatac TNT PG 23 PTS | 6 AST | 1 STL
Nambatac stepped up in a major way for TNT, finishing with a team-high output and his best scoring game since last conference. He was sharp from two, going 7-of-12 and also came through in the second half, pouring in 16 points. With several key players sidelined, Nambatac should continue to see a much larger role on the scoring end.
Darius Days TNT SF 23 PTS | 6 REB | 3 AST
Despite struggling from three, converting just 3-of-11, the import still had a solid performance, finishing as one of the game’s top scorers. Even so, Days should be poised for much bigger performances ahead once he finds his rhythm and settles in with the team.
Roger Ray Pogoy TNT SF 21 PTS | 3 AST | 1 BLK
The TNT guard kicked off the conference with a sharp offensive display, finishing with his tenth 20-point game of the season on a solid 4-of-7 shooting from two and 4-of-9 from the three-point area.
Glenn Khobuntin TNT PF 11 PTS | 7 REB | 3 AST
Khobuntin was inserted in the starting lineup against Macau and he delivered, leading the team in rebounds while also matching his season-high in scoring for the fourth time.
Jose Antonio Quitevis TNT SG 8 PTS | 7 REB | 1 AST
TNT were severely undermanned to start the conference, which opened up a much larger role for the rookie guard. He made the most of the opportunity, posting career highs in both points and rebounds.
De’Vondre Perry MGP PF 36 PTS | 10 REB | 2 STL
Offensively, Perry has been reliable for Macau through their first two games, but he has elevated his game over the last two, posting back-to-back 35-point outings. Three-point shooting has been his lone issue, however, as he’s gone 3-for-17 over the last three games.
Damian Chongqui MGP PG 24 PTS | 3 REB | 8 AST
Ejected in their loss to Converge, Chongqui bounced back today, finishing second on the team in scoring while leading all players in assists. Excluding that last game, he’s been off to a stellar start this conference, averaging 27.0 points and 5.3 assists.
Riley Grigsby GIN SF 42 PTS | 13 REB | 2 STL
The substitute Ginebra import carried the team on his back offensively, scoring more than half of the team’s total points. He was efficient inside, shooting 60% from two-point range, and also stretched the floor with three triples and a four-pointer. He also delivered when they needed him, scoring eight points in the clutch to help bring his team back into the game.
Jeremiah Gray GIN SG 9 PTS | 6 REB | 5 STL
Gray was the Kings’ leading local scorer against Phoenix, but he had a difficult time finding his rhythm, shooting just 3-for-14 from the field and 1-for-6 from three. Still, he made a significant impact by grabbing four offensive rebounds and recording a season-high in steals.
Nard John Pinto GIN PG 6 REB | 3 AST | 3 STL
The veteran guard stepped up in a big way, making his presence felt on both ends of the floor. Pinto has proven to be a vital spark off the bench for the Kings, and with Thompson sidelined, they’ll definitely need more performances like this from him.
BJ Johnson PHX SF 23 PTS | 11 REB | 5 STL
This Phoenix import once again led the charge, posting his third consecutive 20-point performance and his second 10-rebound outing of the conference. But he made an even bigger impact today with his defense, leading all players with seven stocks.
Ricci Paolo Rivero PHX SF 16 PTS | 9 REB | 3 AST
Rivero came through with another well-rounded performance. Offensively, he was effective from the two-point area, converting 6-of-9 to lead all local players. He was equally impressive on the boards, posting a conference-high mark. The only downside was the turnovers, as he recorded a season-worst with eight.
Jason Perkins PHX PF 10 PTS | 7 REB | 2 AST
Perkins continues to be a steady hand on the scoring end, posting his second consecutive double-digit game. Still, his numbers haven’t quite matched last conference’s pace, when he averaged 15.5 points while shooting 56% from two-point range and 40% from three.
Kainoa Bryson Ballungay PHX PF 12 PTS | 5 REB | 1 AST
The Phoenix big man missed most of the Commissioner’s Cup due to an ankle injury, but he has made a strong return this conference, averaging 8.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.7 stocks through three games.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE DAY:
Rhon Jay Abarrientos GIN PG 5 REB | 4 AST | 3 STL
The reigning Best Player of the Conference got off to a rough start, scoring just eight points on 3-for-16 shooting from the field, including missing all seven of his three-point attempts. However, these performances have been rare for him, marking just the fifth time he finished with fewer than 10 points this season.
