2019 PBA: the top 5 players who became worse 1.0

(c) PBA Media Bureau

Are you familiar with the award Most Improved Player? That is given to the player that improved the most, either skill-wise or most of the time, in his statistical production.

Today, we will decipher the other side of it. These are the five players that have regressed the most in just one season, statistically.

Kelly Williams
Do you still remember who was the Most Valuable Player of the PBA in the 2008 season? Yes, it was Kelly Williams. Do you still remember that he was drafted as the #1 pick, above Arwind Santos? In terms of longevity, Arwind had proven that he was the better player. Williams averaged 7.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 37.1% FG and 25.6% 3FG per game last year. This year, he is down to 4.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 34% FG and 7% 3FG per game.

Beau Belga
Big Bo is falling under-the-radar in terms of underwhelming play. He is producing 8.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 39% FG and 19% 3FG per game this season. Last season, he manufactured 9.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 39.2% FG and 33.6% 3FG per game. His upticks in assists and rebounds are not enough for his sudden regression into an incapable shooter.

Baser Amer
He was one of the contenders for the Most Improved plum last season. Now, he is on the other end of the spectrum. Baser blossomed in the 2018 Governors Cup where he manufactured 11.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 33% 3FG per game. The Amer that Meralco has this season is different. He is putting up 12.7 points but his other numbers are way down (4.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 30% 3FG).

Mac Belo
Mac Belo is not a bust but if the breakout season is not coming soon, he could be. After an encouraging 2018 Philippine Cup where he averaged 15.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.6 steals and 41% FG per game, he is down to 10.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 38% FG per game. That is not the way it was supposed to be. He was supposed to be a versatile and skilled forward, capable of being a two-edged sword in the court.

Jeff Chan
We all know by now that Ginebra's main problem is three-point shooting. That is the reason why coach Tim Cone gave up a 1st round pick to grab Jeff Chan who was known to be an elite shooter. He was elite last season, averaging 13.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 38% 3FG per game in the 2018 Philippine Cup. This conference, he is down to 4.8 points, 1.5 assists and 17% 3FG per game. It seems like father-time just got another victim.