Here are the players who made the biggest impact on May 29 and the stats to prove it.
TOP PERFORMERS OF THE DAY:
Justin Brownlee GIN SF 32 PTS | 6 REB | 6 AST | 64.2 FPS
The superstar import was just on a different tier. Offensively, he was sensational again today, matching his best scoring game of the series. He established control early, going a perfect 4-for-4 in the first quarter, which included two four-pointers for 13 points. Through five games in this matchup, Rain or Shine has had no answer for Brownlee, so he should be poised for another big performance in Game 6.
Christopher Albert McCullough TNT C 42 PTS | 11 REB | 1 STL | 59.2 FPS
Though he put up solid numbers in his debut in Game 4, he has largely struggled, shooting just 7-for-22 from the field and committing four turnovers. Today, however, he turned it around in a major way, scoring 17 big points in the fourth quarter and finishing with 40 points on excellent efficiency to lead all players in scoring.
Patrick Yousef Gardner MER C 25 PTS | 12 REB | 2 BLK | 51.9 FPS
By any means, Gardner was outstanding in Game 5, finishing with a complete stat line. In terms of scoring, he was effective from all levels and recorded his second consecutive 20-point performance. But he made his biggest impact on the boards, where he grabbed eight offensive rebounds to finish as the game’s leading rebounder. However, in two games this series, Gardner has struggled with foul trouble, which TNT took full advantage of today. While there’s no doubt that he can produce at a high level, he could be poised for more if he becomes more disciplined on defense.
Rhon Jay Abarrientos GIN PG 31 PTS | 8 AST | 2 STL 50.8 FPS
This was a perfect bounce back performance after scoring just eight points in their Game 4 loss. RJ was highly efficient, shooting 7-for-12 from two and knocking down four threes and a four pointer for his highest scoring game in the last two months. He also completely took over down the stretch, scoring 10 crucial points in the final quarter to help the team secure the win.
Jaylen Rashawn Johnson ROS C 22 PTS | 14 REB | 4 AST | 43.8 FPS
Limited to one of his worst scoring performances of the conference in Game 4, Johnson came out strong today, dropping nine points in the first quarter. While his momentum slowed during a scoreless third quarter, he still finished strong—shooting 8-for-10 on two-pointers and recording his eighth 20-point double-double of the conference.
Jhonard Clarito ROS PF 20 PTS | 10 REB | 1 STL | 33.0 FPS
Offensively, Clarito dominated to open this series, scoring 44 points in the first two games. However, he has cooled off since then, averaging just eight points. Today, though, he was back to that level, shooting 6-for-13 from two and 8-for-9 from the free-throw line for his second 20-point outing of the conference. He was even more impressive on the boards, recording six offensive rebounds and raising his average to 7.8 rebounds per game in this series.
Adrian Clarence Nocum ROS SG 25 PTS | 3 REB | 1 STL| 32.1 FPS
For the majority of the conference, Nocum has been impressive, and that was the case again today as he led his team in scoring with a conference-high performance. He particularly stood out in the third quarter, scoring 15 points to help his team get back into the game. The team will certainly need nothing less than this performance from him in Game 6 if they want to avoid elimination.
Jordan Timothy Heading TNT SG 22 PTS | 1 REB | 6 AST | 31.2 FPS
Heading continues his upward trend in Game 5. He delivered again offensively, shooting 5-for-9 from two and 6-for-7 from the free-throw line to lead all local players in scoring, while also finishing with consecutive five-assist performances for the first time in the conference.
Christopher Clark Banchero MER PG 12 PTS | 6 AST | 3 STL | 28.0 FPS
Despite the loss, Banchero provided a bright spot. Offensively, he was highly efficient, shooting 6-of-11 on two-pointers while also leading the team in assists. Throughout the conference, Banchero has been a major part of the rotation, though performances like this haven’t come often.
Jeth Troy Rosario GIN PF 16 PTS | 7 REB | 3 AST | 27.9 FPS
Rosario stepped up in a big way in Game 5, shooting 4-for-6 from two-point range and hitting two threes to finish third on the team in scoring and record his best scoring game of the month. The only downside was the turnovers, as he’s averaging three per game in this series.
Caelan Todd Tiongson ROS PF 10 PTS | 5 REB | 6 AST | 27.0 FPS
It wasn’t a flawless outing but Tiongson still responded after a forgettable performance in Game 4. He made his presence felt on the boards, grabbing three offensive rebounds while also leading the team in assists. Still, his offensive production will be more significant for the team in this matchup, so they’ll need him to get going soon.
Clifford Marion Hodge MER PF 12 PTS | 10 REB | 23.0 FPS
Hodge had an impressive performance in Game 4 but he was even better this time around, finishing second on the team in both points and rebounds. It was also his second double-double outing of the conference, with both coming in this matchup.
Norman Aaron Black MER SG 11 PTS | 2 REB | 3 AST | 16.9 FPS
Once again, Black has provided a major spark off the bench for Meralco. He was perfect from the three-point area, knocking down all three of his attempts. The team will surely need these performances from him more often.
Louis Raphael Cu GIN SF 8 PTS | 3 REB | 4 AST | 16.6 FPS
The forward was instrumental in the Kings’ Game 5 win, stepping in for Thompson in the fourth quarter after he was sidelined by foul trouble. He came through in a big way offensively, scoring all of his points in that period to help the Kings repel Rain or Shine’s comeback attempt.
Jeremiah Gray GIN SG 3 PTS | 1-3 3P | 7 REB | 11.4 FPS
Though Gray hasn’t seen many minutes in this series, he’s still contributed positively on offense. But he made his biggest impact today, matching the team high and setting a new conference high in rebounds. With bench production likely to become a deciding factor in this matchup, the Kings will certainly count on him to deliver again.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE DAY:
Kier John Quinto MER SF 4 PTS | 1 REB | 1 AST | 1.7 FPS
Through their first three playoff games, Quinto has been dependable offensively, averaging 12.7 points while shooting 8-for-14 on two-pointers. However, he’s hit a wall recently, averaging just 4.0 points over four games. He struggled even more today, finishing with five turnovers.
