The Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Season 7 has shown some new and fresh names, but which players deserved to be seen? Here are the 9 MPBL players who are the new faces of the league you need to watch right now.
Kyle Dominique Tolentino (Gensan Warriors)
In last year’s playoffs, South Cotabato almost pulled off two consecutive upsets, if only they were able to keep their energy against Batangas. One of the reasons why they overachieved was because of the scrapper guard, Kyle Dominique Tolentino.
South Cotabato, now the GenSan Warriors, obviously would keep such an important player. However, along with that is Tolentino’s massive improvement. From averaging 8 points per game, he now boosts it to 13, by playing the same minutes.
Warren Bonifacio (Biñan Tatak Gel Beast Motorcycle GameX)
If there’s one word for Warren Bonifacio, it’s none other than “consistent”. Earlier this season, Bonifacio averaged 12.1 points per game for Pasay, and after transferring to Biñan, you’d have thought his numbers would dip since the team has some of the most exciting basketball players. Well, no.
You see, Bonifacio is getting less touch and fewer minutes, but he actually produced more in Biñan than he did in Pasay. In his first two games with his new squad, Bonifacio is averaging 14.5 points and 9.5 rebounds. He may not be the flashiest athlete right now, but for fundamentals buffs, he’s a player you need to see right now.
Christian Fajarito (Pasay Voyagers)
Fajarito’s first two games as part of the Pasay Voyagers just proves how much of an impact he can be. Before joining Pasay, Fajarito played alongside a star-studded crew in Biñan. Unfortunately, it didn’t pan out as he was only given limited playing minutes. However, after transferring to Pasay, the former Letran standout gave it his all, highlighting a solid 27 points and 5 rebounds on 4-for-10 three-point shooting. He’s always been deadly on all parts of the floor, whether it be inside the paint or outside in the perimeter, Fajarito can always deliver.
The 6-foot-6 big man is only 27 years old, and although his career is riddled by injuries, he’s one of the players this season that needs to be showcased.
Vic Manuel (Pangasinan Heatwaves)
The Muscle Man is surely living up to the hype in his first year in the MPBL. As someone who had just left the PBA, it’s not surprising to see that Vic Manuel still has a lot of gas left in the tank.
Moreover, the 38-year-old big man somehow re-imagined his game. From being a guy who takes a lot of pounding down low for Alaska and San Miguel to a legit scorer in Pangasinan who now takes almost four attempts from behind the arc and shoots 36% from that area. He’s averaging 14.7 points for the Heatwaves, while also helping them to a nice 12-6 record as of this writibg.
Levi Hernandez (Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters)
Levi Hernandez is the type of player you’d love to have on your team but hate to play against. Love him or hate him, he’s surely entertaining to watch.
Hernandez is a true leader and an excellent scoring machine who likes to talk a lot of trash. Despite his on-court antics, Hernandez pours it all on the floor by putting 17.2 points per contest while also guarding the opposing team’s best player. In short, he’s Batangas’ best player and at the same time, their biggest weapon.
Larry Muyang (Pampanga Giant Lanterns)
The reigning champs, the Pampanga Giant Lanterns, aren’t obviously the best team in the MPBL right now, with Justine Baltazar now in the PBA, Encho Serrano jumping to Abra, and Coach Pineda not backing the team anymore. But what keeps this team afloat is the acquisition of Larry Muyang.
Archie Concepcion is still lighting it up from outside, but Muyang has been leading this team to victory this season with his 14.7 PPG, 10.5 RPG, and 1.1 BPG averages while also having a very efficient 56% field goal.
The young big man was one of the purest talents in basketball, a big-bodied bruiser with excellent low-post and face-up game. Can Muyang take this team further and bring home the championship for the third time?
Dave Ildefonso (Abra Weavers)
Despite the controversy that surrounded him, Dave Ildefonso is out there putting Abra on top of the standings. In his first season in MPBL, Ildefonso has already created waves across the nation, making himself one of the best, if not the best player in the league. The 25-year-old forward is averaging 18.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.7 steals per game with 44-31-69 shooting splits while also leading the Abra Weavers to the best record in the league.
Ildefonso is still entering his prime, and some would say that after a short stint in Korea, he’s just too good to be in the MPBL. In his recent performances, Ildefonso was unfazed even against the then-unbeaten Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards. Back on July 12, the young star destroyed Nueva Ecija after a 25-point, 11-rebound masterclass on top of his impressive defensive presence with 4 steals and 1 block. Aside from being a slasher, Ildefonso also lives and breathes from the three-point line, which makes him a three-level scoring threat.
Anyway, will we see him dominate even further, win the championship, and break the hearts of the league’s top contenders right now?
JR Quiñahan (Cebu Greats)
After a tumultuous start to the season, Cebu’s new management was able to get back on track by signing talented young guys and ex-PBA stars, including Rain or Shine Elasto Painters legend JR Quiñahan.
It certainly is not yet over for the other half of the infamous extra rice duo. In just four games as a member of the reorganized Cebu Greats, Quiñahan is doing nothing but making buckets. At 41 years old, he’s still putting up 14 points per game in 18 minutes of play. With this kind of production, the well-known Cebuano bruiser has already surpassed some of the best PBA big men in his generation who played in the MPBL like Arwind Santos, Jervy Cruz, Marc Pingris, and even the younger Vic Manuel. It’s already been fun seeing him in his first four games with Cebu, and who knows what the veteran big man can do more in the long run.
Greg Slaughter (Basilan Starhorse)
If there’s one player the fans and the whole league must keep an eye on, it’s no other than the returning Greg Slaughter. Although he was acquired by Basilan a couple of weeks ago, he is yet to suit up for the Southern team. Regardless, there’s no denying that Slaughter is a behemoth of an athlete. Even at 37, the 7-footer can still produce double digits in scoring and rebounding and may even push Basilan back to championship contention. Last season, Slaughter put up 15.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game for Manila.
What’s even more exciting is that Gregzilla will become a huge target in the paint once more, and that’s going to be one heck of a sight for sure!
