The Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) 2024 playoffs had just ended, with Pampanga coming out on top once again. However, with the intense battles now concluded, let’s take a look at the best performers of this year’s playoffs, from start to finish.
11. Will McAloney (Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards)
One of Nueva Ecija’s key guys this year is the 2024 MPB All-Star, WIlliam McAloney Jr., who greatly impacted the team, especially during the playoffs.
Although the No.3 team in the North gave Pampanga—the eventual champions—a great fight, this veteran club still fell short despite McAloney’s tough presence in the paint.
2024 MPBL Playoffs Stats: 10.25 PPG | 2.75 APG | 8.5 RPG | 39.4% FG
10. Robby Celiz (Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards)
Nueva Ecija forward Robby Celiz was recognized as one of the best in the league after being named to the All-MPBL Second Team, but his stellar performance didn’t stop during the elimination round.
Celiz and Nueva Ecija met Pampanga in the second round, and surprisingly, it was he who led the Rice Vanguards in scoring against the towering defense of the Giant Lanterns. In the first round, he fired 23 points against Pasay and then resumed his hot hands during game 1 of the semis after putting up 21 points.
2024 MPBL Playoffs Stats: 15.25 PPG | 3.25 APG | 8.75 RPG | 47.2% FG
9. Jaycee Marcelino (Zamboanga Master Sardines)
Former MPBL MVP, Jaycee Marcelino, gave everything he’s got in the first round but sadly fell to a hungry Parañaque team.
Marcelino tried to bring Zamboanga their first championship but despite his impressive outing on both ends of the floor, the Patriots toppled the Master Sardines in three games. It was hard fought though with Marcelino’s consistency in scoring while also being the team’s best wing defender. It’s just unfortunate that the Marcelino twins will be leaving Zamboanga to join a top contender in the North division.
2024 MPBL Playoffs Stats: 15.67 PPG | 3.67 APG | 6.33 RPG | 2.33 SPG | 43.9% FG
8. John Paul Sarao (Parañaque Patriots)
JP Sarao was one of the main reasons why Parañaque reached the semis. Although they eventually faced the Quezon Huskers, led by Rookie of the Year LJ Gonzales, we have to admit how hard they fought night in and night out.
The Patriots are a pretty tough team considering they have a 2024 All-MPBL Second Team member (Sarao), the 2024 Homegrown Player of the Year (JR Olegario), and a talented All-Star (Jielo Razon). But we have to give Sarao props for taking it a step further in the playoffs after bringing his team past Zamboanga. From averaging only 10 points per game, the 25-year-old forward bumped his numbers up to 15 while also shooting 50% from behind the arc.
2024 MPBL Playoffs Stats: 15.4 PPG | 2.2 APG | 5.2 RPG |
7. Christian Fajarito (South Cotabato Warriors)
The 6th-seeded South Cotabato Warriors could have had the perfect Cinderella story, with veterans Val Acuna and Jammer Jamito putting the team behind their backs against better Southern teams. They handed Biñan an upset in the first round and then proceeded to take the top 2 team Batangas City to 3 games in the semis.
Jamito and Acuna did play well during the postseason, but the most surprising performer in the playoffs is 6-foot-7 forward Christian Fajarito, the big man who gave Batangas a lot of problems. Despite coming from an injury, Fajarito did not disappoint in the semifinals. Coming off the bench, the former Letran standout gave clutch performance after clutch performance despite not playing since August.
2024 MPBL Playoffs Stats: 13.33 PPG | 2.0 APG | 7.33 RPG | 44.0% FG
6. Orlan Wamar Jr. (San Juan Knights)
Three-point King, Orland Wamar Jr. is undoubtedly San Juan Knight’s best player, not only in the 29-team elimination round but also during the playoffs.
Wamar just cruised through Rizal and Caloocan in the first and semifinal rounds but went ballistic against their rivals, the Pampanga Giant Lanterns, in the North division finals. The Cebuano star wasn’t shooting his best prior to the matchup, but when it was time to bring out the big guns, Wamar Jr. went hot in game 2 of the division finals by putting up 30 points despite the loss.
2024 MPBL Playoffs Stats: 14.33 PPG | 5.67 APG | 2.67 RPG | 27.78% 3P FG
5. Levi Hernandez (Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters)
Levi Hernandez is a great trash-talker, but he also backs it up with his intensity and scoring prowess. Through the course of their whole playoff run, Hernandez stayed consistent in putting up double-digits in scoring and getting into his opponent’s head.
He would crumble in game 3 against Quezon in the Division finals, but his overall performance is one to be remembered. Not only did Hernandez lead the team in scoring looking like he deserved to be an All-MPBL team nominee, the 34-year-old shooting guard also displayed his terrific shooting from long range through 8 games.
2024 MPBL Playoffs Stats: 15.25 PPG | 4.0 RPG | 37.0% 3PFG
4. Louell Jay Gonzales (Quezon Huskers)
LJ Gonzales also had his fair share of success in his first year in the league. The young gun who was a former Far Eastern University star brought his talents to the Quezon Huskers, clearing the 2024 MPBL Rookie of the Year award and being named to the All-MPBL Second Team over teammate Judel Ric Fuentes (who was playing very poorly during the playoffs).
From afar, Gonzales’ numbers may not be the best, but that’s because there are times he played less than five minutes due to injuries like what happened to him in game 1 of the National Finals against Pampanga on December 1. On nights that he’s being fielded, the 25-year-old point guard stuffs the stat sheet and leads the Huskers to their first Finals appearance, although they suffered a devastating lopsided loss against the back-to-back champs.
2024 MPBL Playoffs Stats: 9.2 PPG | 2.8 APG | 5.6 RPG
3. Encho Serrano (Pampanga Giant Lanterns)
If there’s a current player in the MPBL that has all the tools to become a good role player in the PBA, that has to be Encho Serrano.
During the playoffs, Serrano showed his resiliency, intensity, and leadership that put Pampanga on the map. He wasn’t exactly a force during the first round against Abra, but when things got heated in the semis, Serrano took it up a notch – scoring, rebounding, making plays, and guarding the best backcourt players of their foes.
2024 MPBL Playoffs Stats: 10.89 PPG | 3.0 APG | 3.67 RPG
2. Archie Concepcion (Pampanga Giant Lanterns)
From being the Homegrown Player of the Year to becoming an All-MPBL team member, Archie Concepcion really has come a long way. If there’s one thing Concepcion is good at, it’s definitely putting the ball in the basket.
He averaged the second-most points in Pampanga, just behind Justine Baltazar, and was obviously the best shooter in the team. His best showcase in the playoffs may have been game 3 against Quezon in the Finals after he dropped 19 points and 5 rebounds while shooting 44.4% from three-point land. Truly, Concepcion is one of the best guys in the league everyone should keep an eye on next season.
2024 MPBL Playoffs Stats: 14.78 PPG | 1.56 APG | 3.22 RPG | 35.71% 3P FG
1. Justine Baltazar (Pampanga Giant Lanterns)
And of course, the best performer in the playoffs is none other than the Finals MVP himself, Justine Baltazar. Undoubtedly the biggest fish in the pond, Balti left a mark in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, making a real case as the league’s true GOAT.
The 27-year-old superstar is no doubt the best player in the past two years, and his bid to bring another chip to Pampanga was a success. As the main man for the Giant Lanterns, he led the team in all categories: points, assists, rebounds, steals, and blocks. Without even looking at his stats, you could already see how dominant Baltazar and every opponent didn’t stand a chance against him or the rest of Pampanga.
2024 MPBL Playoffs Stats: 17.44 PPG | 5.33 APG | 19.67 RPG | 1.56 SPG | 1.2 BPG
