Bolick, Malonzo pace BPC derby

Former teammates Robert Bolick and Jamie Malonzo are asserting their dominance as they emerge as frontrunners in the Best Player of the Conference derby of the Commissioner's Cup of the Philippine Basketball Association.

Bolick, the heady playmaker of NorthPort, is setting the pace, posting 35.9 statistical points average after tallying 21.7 points, 6.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game in the elimination round of this import-laced tournament.

His former teammate, Malonzo, refused to be left behind as he averaged 14.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game to pile up the second-best 31.3 SPs following his involvement in a blockbuster trade from NorthPort to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel at the start of the conference.

Also in the running is Malonzo's teammate in reigning Most Valuable Player Scottie Thompson.

Despite being reduced into a mere role player following the emergence of athletic wingers in Malonzo and Jeremiah Gray, Thompson still churned out 11.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 5.5 assist and 1.7 steals per game for 31.3 SPs.

Rounding out the top five are Jio Jalalon of Magnolia and CJ Perez of San Miguel Beer.

Jalalon, the tournament's current steals leader among local players with 2.4 per game, tallied 30.4 SPs average built on 11.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 6.2 assists norms per match.

Perez, a multiple-time scoring champion who just won his first ever PBA championship as a member of San Miguel Beer, compiled 30.3 average SPs as he averaged 16.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.2 steals per game.