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By Frank C. Calapre, Correspondent
FIL-AMERICAN Kelly Williams of Sta. Lucia and
Kerby Raymundo of Purefoods emerged as top contenders for the 2008
Smart-PBA Philippine Cup Best Player of the Conference award.
However, the 6’6 Williams, the top pick
in the 2006 annual draft, has the biggest chance after
finishing a close second behind leader Arwind Santos of Air 21 in
the overall statistical points at the end of the semifinal round.
Williams, a former standout at Oakland
University in Michigan, USA, averaged 36.8 statistical points,
just 0.3 points behind Santos, who accumulated the highest average
of 37.1 points before the Express bowed out in the two-round
wildcard phase.
Raymundo, a native of Orion, Bataan, placed
fifth overall with an average of 32.9 SPs followed by teammate James
Yap, the 2006 MVP, with 32.2 points.
But the unwritten rules of selecting the
conference best player state that only the top five players in the
overall statistical points can qualify as candidates for the
prestigious honor won last year by Mark Caguioa of ousted champion
Barangay Ginebra.
Williams, a member of the RP national squad that
saw action in the 2007 FIBA-Asia Championship in Tokushima, Japan,
is expected to overtake Santos in the overall SPs standings, thus
making him the brightest choice for the coveted individual honor at
the end of the conference.
Williams was sixth in scoring with 17.9 points a
game, fourth in rebounding with 11.0 a game and tied with
Santos in the most double-double with identical 17 apiece.
Raymundo, the former Letran Knights
center-forward, may pull off some surprises as players, team
captains or managers will be also casting their votes in the
selection.
Completing the Top 5 were 6’9 Asi Taulava of
Coca-Cola Tigers (36.8) and 2007 MVP Willie Miller of Alaska (36.2).
Only Williams made it to the Top 10 among the
Realtors. The others were were Jay-Jay Hilterbrand of Ginebra
(31.8), Danny Seigle of Magnolia (31.0), Nic Belasco of Welcoat
(30.8), Cyrus Baguio of Red Bull (30.7) and Jay Washington of Talk
‘N Text (29.4).
Joe Devance, the prized-recruit of Welcoat,
currently leads the Top 10 rookies with 26.0 followed by Ryan Reyes
of Sta. Lucia (25.7), Ronjay Buenafe of Coca-Cola (20.6) and Chico
Lanete of Purefoods (20.5
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