(c) PBA Media Bureau
Is it an overstatement if I say that Rafi Reavis may end up as one of the most underrated players in the history of the PBA?
That question could be gaining some traction during the first three games of the 2019 PBA Philippine Cup Finals.
The emphasis right now is his defense on June Mar Fajardo, the best and most unstoppable player in the league. He limited the Kraken to two less than 18 points games and 4.3 turnovers per game.
Overall, Fajardo is still monstrous, as he managed 35 points and 21 rebounds in the first game. But, in terms of the plus/minus, Fajardo is only +2 for the entire three games. That means that in the minutes that he played, the Beermen outscored Magnolia by just two points!
When asked about his defense on Fajardo, Reavis was quick to point to his experience as a big factor to what he was doing.
Other than his experience, his sustained athleticism and lateral agility have made him arguably the best defensive center in the league.
Going back to the finals, Reavis has a plus/minus of +3 for the entire three games. That means Magnolia scored three more points in the minutes that he has played.
It is amazing to think that he managed to sustain his physical prowess even though he is already 41 years old.
Think about it, are there centers in the PBA today that is much better on overall defense than him?
Fajardo and Greg Slaughter have great impacts on the defensive end but in terms of overall defensive skill set, Reavis' ability to handle guards in the perimeter will set him apart.
Aguilar and Santos are other contenders but they are not centers by nature.
At this point of Rafi's career, we better appreciate what he is doing because we may not see someone like him for a while.
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