PBA PHILIPPINE CUP FINALS

BPC frontrunners Abueva, Sangalang, Williams say award is just a bonus, PBA title is real goal

Magnolia's Calvin Abueva and Ian Sanglang, and TNT's Mikey Williams—all of whom are in a tight race for the Best Player of the Conference (BPC) award—were in chorus that their main objective is to win the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup title.

The individual award, they say, is just "a bonus".

The Hotshots' animated forward Abueva currently leads the BPC race after tallying 34.2 statistical points on averages of 15.2 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.0 steal, and 1.1 block in 19 games.

His teammate Sangalang comes in at third place with a 33.0 SPs on 16.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game, just behind NorthPort guard Robert Bolick.

The Tropang Giga's rookie Williams, on the other hand, is in fourth place after recording 32.0 SPs on averages of 16.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.4 assists in 18 games.

With their respective teams' looming finals battle, though, the three all agreed that their priority is the team championship rather than the individual honor.

"It's going to be a bonus because the number one priority is to win the trophy," said Abueva, who joined the team prior to the start of the season, during the PBA Finals press conference on Tuesday.

Sangalang echoed Abueva, saying: "Same with Calvin, I went here in the bubble not expecting to be one of the candidates for BPC. I went here to help Magnolia return to the finals and I just played my game and the BPC award will just be a bonus."

Williams, who is already making a strong case for the top rookie honors, said his foremost goal is to deliver the championship since coming to the league as the No. 4 pick in this year's draft.

"I'm glad we're in the position to compete for the championship. That's the only goal I have this year."

The three players will be tested when Magnolia and the TNT Tropang Giga open their best-of-seven finals series on Wednesday, October 20, at 6 p.m.

—JMB, GMA News