Who hasn’t heard of Daily Fantasy, right? Daily Fantasy is the Philippines’ first-ever and only online fantasy platform that allows users to play the role of GMs, creating virtual teams for contests and bragging rights.
One of its partners is, of course, the PBA, Asia’s first and oldest pay-for-play league, and this partnership has allowed Daily Fantasy players to come up with the best teams possible every PBA game day. And, as anyone who plays Daily Fantasy should know, stat-sheet stuffers are at a premium because having them on any fantasy team means points—lots and lots of points.
Introducing the Rebanse Daily Fantasy Team
So, with that being said, we took a deep dive into the stats compiled in this ongoing PBA Philippine Cup to find out who the league’s certified stat-sheet stuffers are up until the quarterfinals. We were looking for five, but lo and behold, we found eight! And these players make up the first-ever Rebanse Daily Fantasy Team:
Calvin Abueva, Titan Ultra Giant Risers
(23.6 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.2 BPG)
The moment Abueva had that 41-point, 7-rebound debut for Titan Ultra, we knew he’d be putting up big numbers. What we didn’t anticipate was The Beast filling out box scores game in and game out. Not only did he put up double-doubles with regularity, he also ended up as the leading scorer of the conference while submitting all-around numbers consistently.
Daily Fantasy Stat of Note: 3.0 stocks per game
Juan Gomez de Liaño, Converge FiberXers
(19.0 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 6.7 APG, 1.2 SPG)
Gomez de Liaño heralded his entry to the PBA with triple-doubles in two of Converge’s first three games, and he continued putting up big numbers all conference long. A certified bucket-getter, JGDL has been a pleasant surprise on the boards as well and is showing he’s an elite playmaker in terms of setting up his teammates.
Daily Fantasy Stat of Note: 7.2 rebounds per game for a guard
June Mar Fajardo, San Miguel Beermen
(17.4 PPG, 15.3 RPG, 5.1 APG, 0.7 SPG, 1.1 BPG)
Fajardo has always been a double-double machine, but fantasy-wise, putting up 17.4 points and 15.3 rebounds is definitely elite. What makes The Kraken a truly premier fantasy star, however, is his much-improved passing, which has only made the nine-time MVP even more valuable for fantasy players looking for all-around stat-sheet stuffers.
Daily Fantasy Stat of Note: 5.1 assists per game for a center
Zavier Lucero, Magnolia Hotshots
(17.1 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, 2.0 BPG)
Lucero has made giant strides on the court and has become one of the faces of Magnolia’s exciting youth brigade, along with Jerom Lastimosa and Yukien Andrada. His playmaking still isn’t elite just yet, but he’s a Swiss Army knife who can do it all, with rebounding and shot-blocking as his specialties so far.
Daily Fantasy Stat of Note: 3.1 stocks per game
Scottie Thompson, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel
(11.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 7.0 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.4 BPG)
Talk of stat-sheet stuffers will inevitably shift to Thompson, who has been putting up gaudy all-around numbers for the better part of nine seasons already. He isn’t a big scorer—never was, probably never will be—but trust him to get things done in other areas and fill the box scores with caroms, dimes, steals, and even blocks.
Daily Fantasy Stat of Note: 7 dimes per game
Robert Bolick, NLEX Road Warriors
(18.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 8.4 APG, 1.4 SPG)
Bolick is a maestro on offense, and he’s been putting up points and dishing out dimes throughout his career. He’s done exactly that in this Philippine Cup, although he missed a few games, first due to a personal matter and then because of a Gilas Pilipinas call-up for the SEA Games. But when he plays, expect him to give you numbers.
Daily Fantasy Stat of Note: 8.4 assists per game
Joshua Munzon, Titan Ultra Giant Risers
(21.6 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 4.9 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.6 BPG)
That the Giant Risers went 4–7 and were competitive in their maiden conference is mostly due to Abueva’s brilliance. But Munzon was equally solid, save for his sometimes questionable decision-making and poor shot selection. Still, the on-court production is undeniable, as Munzon does a little bit of everything for Titan Ultra.
Daily Fantasy Stat of Note: 1.8 steals per game
Justine Baltazar, Converge FiberXers
(14.9 points, 14.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.9 steal, and 0.9 block)
If JGDL was the FiberXers’ engine, Baltazar was the pillar. The first overall pick of the Season 49 PBA Draft has elevated his game in more ways than one this season, and his 14.1 rebounds per game is second only to Fajardo’s league-leading norm. But Balti can do more than just rebound. He can do it all, and his across-the-board numbers prove it.
Daily Fantasy Stat of Note: 14.1 rebounds per game
