Rookie of the Year is not the most meaningful award in sports. It just tells you the best first year in a given year.
Here is the catch though, a player can only fight for it, once in his playing career. So, for the loaded draft class of 2016, who was the best?
ROGER POGOY
Pogoy is the Mr. Veteran of this class. The moment he stepped into the PBA arena, all the rookie-jitters were gone. He is producing 11.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 0.9 steals in the elimination round. His efficiency is prevalent in his 1.8 turnovers per 36 minutes. Which is much better than the 2.1 of Marcio Lassiter.
In the field, he shot 43.6%. Beyond the arc, he is 36.2%. Actually, he is having his best conference this Governors Cup. He is shooting 44% from beyond the arc, helping him average 13.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists.
In the field, he shot 43.6%. Beyond the arc, he is 36.2%. Actually, he is having his best conference this Governors Cup. He is shooting 44% from beyond the arc, helping him average 13.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists.
What makes him a legit choice was his performance in the playoffs. He produced 10.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.0 steals when the stakes were higher.
MATTHEW WRIGHT
Coach Ariel Vanguardia did not waste time making Wright the ace Phoenix. Wright answered the call in manufacturing 16.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 34.8% 3FG and 1.0 steals. For plain comparison, Marcio Lassiter never reached the 16 points mark in San Miguel. Okay, maybe there is a better comparison out there other than the best wingman in the league who is playing in the deepest team.
No. I think, it is also unfair to compare a rookie to a proven veteran. They guy is shooting 34.8% from beyond the arc. Even with his production though, he is not yet there in terms of leading a team deep into the playoffs.
And the last catch? The advance stats is pulling Wright, down. The Player Efficiency Rating has 15.0 as its average. Wright is only at 14.8. His Offensive and Defensive Rating are awful too. It results to negative 11.4. Which means? Per 100 possessions, his team will be worse by 11.4 points.
JIO JALALON
Jalalon deserves a shot. His work inside the court is just so admirable that that alone should be enough to give him a shot. Jiovanni is contributing 9.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.3 steals per game in the elimination round. Yes, the guy is providing more than two extra possessions to his team, per game.
Steal is pretty underrated but if you look at it deeper, a steal completes a defensive stop and jumpstarts the offense with a chunk of lead. Okay. If that 9.8 points is too low for you, how about you also consider his ability on the defensive end?
The guy is a legit stopper. His work ethic and agility makes him a vibrating defensive present. His defensive rating of 92.3 is elite. As in elite. How elite? That 92.3 is much better than any defensive rating that Chris Ross posted! Yes!
I am not saying that Jalalon is already better than Ross. But, think about this. He is playing with a worse roster and he is much younger.
SO, WHO SHOULD BE THE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR?
MATTHEW WRIGHT
Coach Ariel Vanguardia did not waste time making Wright the ace Phoenix. Wright answered the call in manufacturing 16.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 34.8% 3FG and 1.0 steals. For plain comparison, Marcio Lassiter never reached the 16 points mark in San Miguel. Okay, maybe there is a better comparison out there other than the best wingman in the league who is playing in the deepest team.
No. I think, it is also unfair to compare a rookie to a proven veteran. They guy is shooting 34.8% from beyond the arc. Even with his production though, he is not yet there in terms of leading a team deep into the playoffs.
And the last catch? The advance stats is pulling Wright, down. The Player Efficiency Rating has 15.0 as its average. Wright is only at 14.8. His Offensive and Defensive Rating are awful too. It results to negative 11.4. Which means? Per 100 possessions, his team will be worse by 11.4 points.
JIO JALALON
Jalalon deserves a shot. His work inside the court is just so admirable that that alone should be enough to give him a shot. Jiovanni is contributing 9.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.3 steals per game in the elimination round. Yes, the guy is providing more than two extra possessions to his team, per game.
Steal is pretty underrated but if you look at it deeper, a steal completes a defensive stop and jumpstarts the offense with a chunk of lead. Okay. If that 9.8 points is too low for you, how about you also consider his ability on the defensive end?
The guy is a legit stopper. His work ethic and agility makes him a vibrating defensive present. His defensive rating of 92.3 is elite. As in elite. How elite? That 92.3 is much better than any defensive rating that Chris Ross posted! Yes!
I am not saying that Jalalon is already better than Ross. But, think about this. He is playing with a worse roster and he is much younger.
SO, WHO SHOULD BE THE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR?
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