The PBA’s future appears secure, especially now that the league’s younger stars are starting to really show what they can do. At the forefront is the Terrafirma Dyip’s Jerrick Ahanmisi, who is proving to be an explosive and consistent scorer in this second conference for his new franchise.
Fresh off a double triumph in the Three-Point Shootout and Obstacle Challenge (Guard Edition) during the All-Star Weekend in Candon, Ahanmisi carried that momentum straight into the Commissioner’s Cup. He emerged as the leading local scorer before the Lenten break, putting up an impressive 23.75 points per game across four outings. His run was punctuated by a career-best 37-point explosion, underscoring both his scoring arsenal and growing confidence as a primary option.
More importantly, Ahanmisi’s efficiency has matched his volume. Shooting 36% from beyond the arc (12-of-33), he has been instrumental in steering Terrafirma to a strong 3-1 start—an encouraging sign for a franchise eager to turn promise into consistency. While imports continue to dominate the overall scoring race, Ahanmisi’s 11th-place ranking league-wide is no small feat given the caliber of competition.
Young Guns Join Established Vets as Top Scorers
He is not alone in this surge. Barangay Ginebra San Miguel’s RJ Abarrientos has been just as assertive, trailing Ahanmisi by the slimmest of margins at 23.67 points per game. The NLEX Road Warriors’ Robert Bolick, the Season 48 scoring champion, remains a steady force with 22.75, while the Phoenix Fuel Masters’ Ricci Rivero has injected explosiveness into his game, highlighted by a career-high 40 en route to a 22.5 average. The San Miguel Beermen’s CJ Perez, ever the relentless attacker, rounds out this group at 22.25.
The Kraken Lording Over the Boards, with Young Bigs Flanking Him
Even in areas traditionally controlled by imports, the locals are holding their ground. June Mar Fajardo continues to anchor San Miguel’s interior presence, averaging a commanding 17.5 rebounds per game despite the size and athleticism of opposing reinforcements. Justine Baltazar of the Converge FiberXers has also made his mark with 10.4 boards per outing, while rookie Geo Chiu (9.5) of Terrafirma, Jhonard Clarito (8.75) of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, and Troy Rosario (8.33) of Ginebra are quietly putting together solid rebounding numbers of their own in the PBA’s midseason tourney.
Mix of Rising Stars, Veteran Playmakers Top Dimes Department
Playmaking duties, meanwhile, have seen a balanced distribution of talent in the PBA. Bolick shares the league lead in assists at 7.0 per game alongside Terrafirma’s Maverick Ahanmisi and Macau Black Knights’ Damian Chong Qui, reflecting a blend of experience and emerging court vision. Abarrientos continues to impress in this department as well, ranking fourth with 6.33, while Fran Yu (Titan Ultra Giant Risers) and Juan Gomez de Liaño (Converge) are not far behind with 6 dimes apiece.
Vet and Young Gun on Top of Defense
On the defensive end, Ginebra’s Scottie Thompson and Magnolia’s Zav Lucero have set the tone this PBA Commissioner’s Cup. Thompson’s 3.5 steals per game highlight his disruptive instincts, while Lucero, last season’s Defensive Player of the Year, has anchored the paint for Magnolia with 2.5 blocks per contest.
A Good Sign for the PBA
The imports will always command attention in any import-laced PBA conferece. But this early stretch has revealed something more significant: the league’s young locals—Jerrick Ahanmisi, RJ Abarrientos, and Zav Lucero to name three—are not merely supporting acts. They are asserting themselves, producing at a high level, and, more importantly, showing they can carry responsibility.
If this trajectory holds, the message is clear—the PBA is not just surviving the present. It is steadily securing its future, one young standout at a time.
