Here are players who made the biggest impact on July 21 and the stats to prove it.
TOP PERFORMERS OF THE DAY:
Antonio Kurtis Hester MER PF 25 PTS | 12 REB | 1 BLK
The Meralco big man was on fire to start the game, erupting for 24 first-half points on a stellar 9-for-11 shooting. He was unable to sustain it, however, scoring just a single point the rest of the way. Still, he had a solid overall performance, finishing as the team’s top scorer while also leading all players in rebounds.
Christopher Clark Banchero MER PG 16 PTS | 3 REB | 4 AST
Banchero provided a major offensive boost off the bench, knocking down three of his four 4-point attempts. He’s been lethal from that distance lately, going 6-of-7 in his last two games. This also marked his second 15-point game this conference after reaching the mark just once in the previous tournament.
Christopher Elijah Newsome MER SG 16 PTS | 3 REB | 4 AST
Newsome got off to a slow start this conference, but he is finding his groove, shooting efficiently from all ranges today. He was a major contributor in the team’s run in the Commissioner’s Cup, averaging 14.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.9 assists across 20 games.
Clifford Marion Hodge MER PF 14 PTS | 7 REB | 1 BLK
Hodge set a new conference-high in scoring with his performance today. It also marked his ninth double-digit scoring game since the last conference. The big man was equally productive on the glass, grabbing at least five rebounds in every game so far.
Kentrell Debarus Barkley BWB SF 28 PTS | 10 REB | 4 AST
From two-point range, Barkley had a difficult time, shooting just 5-for-18. However, he lit it up from deep, knocking down four 3-pointers and a 4-pointer to finish with his third consecutive 25-point game. He was just as steady on the boards, posting his third 10-rebound output.
Regile Kent Ilagan BWB PG 20 PTS | 4 AST | 2 STL
By any measure, Ilagan had an outstanding performance. He contributed well in the secondary categories, made his mark on defense and remained steady on the offensive end. He also took over when it mattered most, dropping 11 points in the fourth quarter to help bring his team back into the game.
Sedrick Barefield BWB SG 29 PTS | 1 REB | 1 AST
Barefield looked much more like himself against Rain or Shine. He was sharp from the two-point area, converting 8-of-11 and also knocked down four threes to lead all scorers while also matching his best scoring game in the last two conferences.
Cyrus John Austria BWB SG 9 PTS | 4 REB | 1 STL
This was a rock solid performance from the rookie guard. He shot 50% from the field, was perfect from the free-throw line, and made a strong impact on defense—all without committing a single turnover. He should continue to play an important role moving forward.
BJ Johnson PHX SF 27 PTS | 11 REB | 2 STL
Despite going 2-for-9 from long range, Johnson made up for it at the line, knocking down 9 of his 11 free-throw attempts. He also stepped up big in the fourth quarter with eight points to secure his third consecutive 20-point performance.
Kenneth James Tuffin PHX SF 16 PTS | 8 REB | 1 STL
This was a brilliant offensive display from the forward. He set the tone early with 12 first-half points and stayed lethal from deep all game long, knocking down 4 of his 5 three-point attempts. The performance marked his second 15-point game of the conference and his eighth overall since the last tournament.
Christian Tyler Tio PHX PG 12 PTS | 2 AST | 1 STL
The Phoenix guard provided a nice spark on the scoring end, shooting 50% from two-point range while hitting two three-pointers to record his first double-digit scoring outing of the conference. In the Commissioner’s Cup, he has emerged as a reliable offensive contributor, reaching double digits six times.
Aaron Craig Fuller ROS SF 28 PTS | 16 REB | 1 BLK
Fuller has been undeniably one of the top imports in the league this conference, and he proved it again today by finishing as the game’s top scorer and rebounder. He currently ranks third in the league in scoring and third in rebounding.
Adrian Clarence Nocum ROS SG 18 PTS | 6 REB | 8 AST
Nocum has been off to a stellar start this conference but he raised the bar even higher today, posting an impressive all-around stat line. Offensively, he was efficient, going 7-for-10 from two-point range. He also delivered in the secondary categories, posting conference-highs in both rebounds and assists, plus two blocks.
Michael John Malonzo ROS PF 12 PTS | 6 REB | 3 AST
Malonzo came up big on the scoring end, shooting 6-for-8 from two to finish as one of the team’s top scorers. The performance tied his season-high and also marked the third time he reached double digits this season.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE DAY:
Jhonard Clarito ROS PF 2 PTS | 9 REB | 3 TO
Though he led all locals in rebounding, he had a really difficult time on the offensive end. He shot just 1-for-6, including missing all of his three-point attempts, and finished with one of his worst scoring games of the season.
