Here are the players who made the biggest impact on October 31 and the stats to prove it.
TOP PERFORMERS OF THE DAY:
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson TNT PF 38 PTS | 9 REB | 3 AST | 55.3 FPS
RHJ is just built different. Once again, the veteran import dominated on the offensive end, shooting 55% from the field and finished with back-to-back near‑40‑point performances. Only five games since he returned from an injury and he’s back playing at an MVP level.
Robert Lee Bolick NLX PG 23 PTS | 4 REB | 5 AST | 38.3 FPS
NLEX left no doubt in Game 3, putting together an offensive clinic with 78 points in the opening half. Bolick was at the forefront of the attack, erupting for 20 points on 3-for-4 shooting from the four. Throughout the series, Bolick has stood out on the scoring end, averaging 24.7 points and 3 triples per game.
Kenyon Joseph Buffen MAG SF 31 PTS | 5 REB | 2 AST | 37.0 FPS
Offensively, Buffen did his part. After averaging 21 points in his first two playoff games, he elevated his play further in Game 3, leading all scorers with 19 first-half points on his way to his fourth 30-point performance of the conference. Despite the early exit, he put together an impressive run, establishing himself as one the top imports in the tournament.
Deonte DeAngelo Burton NLX PF 19 PTS | 8 REB | 3 AST | 32.1 FPS
Compared to how he’s been playing this conference, this performance was well below his standards. Burton did not reach 20 points for the first time in the tournament and also failed to record a single defensive stat. Even so, NLEX still dominated Phoenix.
Rey Benedict Nambatac TNT PG 13 PTS | 5 REB | 5 AST | 26.5 FPS
Nambatac was instrumental in TNT’s win in Game 3. He stepped up from the bench, finishing as the game’s leading local scorer while also reaching the double-digit scoring mark for the 11th time in the conference.
Louelljay Gonzales NLX PG 12 PTS | 3 AST | 2 STL | 23.9 FPS
In the first two games of the series, Gonzales had a difficult time offensively, averaging just five points while going 3-for-15 from the floor. But he got back on track today, finishing with his ninth double-digit scoring game.
Zavier Lucero MAG SF 7 PTS | 12 REB | 1 STL | 23.4 FPS
Throughout the conference, Lucero was the team’s top scorer, averaging 15.4 points on 50% shooting from two across ten games. Unfortunately, he failed to reach that standard in Game 3, converting just 2-of-7 from the floor and posting a conference-low.
Kevin Louie Alas NLX PG 12 PTS | 3 REB | 5 AST | 23.1 FPS
The guard continues to be an important piece for NLEX in the playoffs. He made another big impact offensively, recording his second straight 10+ point performance while also tallying a game-high and conference-high in assists.
Deschon Winston NLX SG 19 PTS | 1 REB | 2 AST | 22.2 FPS
Offensively, Winston continues to produce at an elite level, finishing as one of the game’s top scorers in Game 3. He’s been highly effective in this series, shooting 19-of-25 from two while putting up 21 points per game.
Kainoa Bryson Ballungay PHX PF 16 PTS | 5 REB | 22.0 FPS
The sophomore forward emerged as a bright spot for Phoenix in the series. He was a reliable presence offensively, averaging 19 points while shooting 20-for-27 from two-point range and going 5-for-11 from deep over three games.
Enoch Valdez NLX SG 10 PTS | 7 REB | 1 BLK | 21.9 FPS
Throughout the conference, the forward has consistently provided a positive boost for NLEX. In Game 3, however, he elevated his impact to another level—making his presence felt on defense while recording his highest-scoring performance of the season.
Ian Paul Sangalang MAG C 12 PTS | 7 REB | 19.4 FPS
Sangalang opened the conference on a high note, scoring double‑digit points in each of his first six games. Though he has not kept that up since then, he still came through when it mattered, finishing Game 3 as the only local scorer in double-digits for Magnolia.
Roger Ray Pogoy TNT SG 12 PTS | 2 REB | 1 STL | 17.4 FPS
Through three games against Magnolia, Pogoy has posted only modest numbers, averaging 11.3 points. Still, he continues to find ways to impact the game and should be able to bring that winning presence in the semifinals.
Jordan Timothy Heading TNT SG 9 PTS | 7 REB | 1 AST | 16.9 FPS
Back in the elimination rounds, Heading has been a force offensively, posting four 20-point games. But he was far from that level in the playoffs, scoring fewer than 10 points in each of his last three games while shooting 7-for-24 from the floor including 1-for-10 from deep.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE DAY:
Jerom Lastimosa MAG PG 8 PTS | 1 REB | 3 AST | 12.7 FPS
For most of the conference, Lastimosa was Magnolia’s go-to scoring threat. He closed the elimination round on a tear, averaging 20.6 points during a five-game win streak. But the playoffs proved to be a different story. He was unable to get into a rhythm, managing just nine points per game while going an ice-cold 6-for-23 from two-point range.
