Is the Philippine Cup BPC down to a two-horse race?

Now that the PBA Philippine Cup is down to the last four teams, it should be safe to assume that the Best Player of the Conference wouldn’t come from the other six teams that have gone fishing. Talk N’ Text, Petron, Rain or Shine and Powerade are set to open their semifinals series this Wednesday, with different characters driving their bids. Arwind Santos proved to be a stats magnet once again, topping the statistical race by scoring in double figures in all 16 of their games so far and has grabbed the most rebounds by recording double-figures in 12 of those 16 outings. He is also running second in shot blocks and has definitely played an important role in the Blaze Boosters return to the top four. Rookie Chris Lutz actually leads Petron in scoring (18.33 ppg) but has missed seven games (five of which Petron still won) and leads the Association in steals per game (2.0). Alex Cabagnot is also noteworthy as he sits on top in assists at 6.8 per outing to go along with his 14.8 ppg (44% 3FGs) 4.3 rpg 1.2 spg, but it’s pretty hard to argue against Arwind’s 18.25 ppg 12.3 rpg 1.3 spg and 1.4 bpg. Santos is simply a great player on an even greater franchise. The already-Cinderellaesque story of the Powerade Tigers was of course inspired by reigning two-time scoring champion Gary David who exploded for 69 points on 25 of 42 FGs in two do-or-die, twice to win playoff games against the top-seeded B-Meg Llamados. Blue-chip rookies JV Casio (11.2 ppg 35% 3FGs 6.2 apg) and Marcio Lassiter (16.3 ppg 5.6 rpg 4.0 apg 1.7 spg) played immense roles, while fifth-year big man Doug Kramer is also having a breakout tournament (11.4 ppg 10.7 rpg), but the impact “El Granada” has had is just massive. Gary is once again on top of the scoring chart with 22.5 ppg (52% FGs) and has scored 14 or more points in 14 of their 16 games which includes a 42-point outburst in a win against Petron last October and 20 or more points in nine other times. Mr. Pure Energy’s time has definitely come. The Tropang Texters of Talk N’ Text has lived by their monicker this season so far. The Tropa has booked their fifth consecutive semifinal seat by committee. Only Japeth Aguilar and Larry Fonacier got to play in all 15 of their games. Harvey Carey started out strong before getting hurt, but still returned for the final push and is punching in 12.9 ppg and 11.2 rpg. After missing the start of the season, 2008 MVP Kelly Williams was his usual Machine Gun self, putting in 14.8 ppg 8.9 rpg 1.1 bpg to sit among the statistical leaders by the end of the QFs. Last season’s Most Improved Player Jayson Castro (15.6 ppg 4.6 rpg 5.1 apf 1.0 spg) played hero on a couple of occasions, so did Jared Dillinger, former ROY Ryan Reyes, Ranidel De Ocampo, reigning MVP Jimmy Alapag and 2009 top overall pick Japeth Aguilar (even on a bad day with that three-point play). Some might say that the Tropa, with all their depth and playing system basketball, is just getting started once again, and there’s no way you can point to a single guy as most valuable. The same may be said for Coach Yeng Guiao’s Elastopainters. Rain or Shine has had different heroes on almost a nightly basis as they push their franchise up to this point for only the second time on this level. Second overall pick Paul Lee has gone beyond the hype. His 13.8 ppg is second only to Jeff Chan’s 15.5 clip. But the Lethal Weapon has proven time and again, throughout his 15-game PBA career, that he’s just not about the angas,  he was born to play this game. Chan’s 46% 3FG shooting was complemented by Ronjay Buenafe’s 10.3 ppg (35% 3FGs), Gabe Norwood’s all-around play (7.9 ppg 6.2 rpg 3.9 apg), Ryan Araña, Larry Rodriguez and of course Extra Rice Inc. Big Beau Belga and JR Quiñahan have split the time and have alternated playing crucial roles in their campaign so far. The combined 500 pound tag-team contributed 19 ppg, 13 rpg, and 2 bpg by not just putting the hurt on the inside, but also hitting 23 of 69 attempts from distance for a 33% 3FG average. Up and down the order though, everybody at RoS might point to a different inspiration, but the confidence they say comes from just one source. He may be louder when he goes silent, but once you see the cocked fistpumps of Coach Yeng Guiao, you kinda get the sense that he’s always exactly where he wants to be. This is why the BPC might just boil down to either Arwind Santos or Gary David, the former, until recently, almost always ended up as the bridesmaid, while the latter is just starting to really get his due. The two guys that collaborated to push Barangay Ginebra to sudden death in 2008 while still with Air 21, may just be the only two guys to choose from. Whoever makes the Finals should earn the nod… If both do, then all bets are off. - OMG, GMA News