MANILA, Philippines - Coca-Cola may be down collectively as a team in the Motolite-PBA Fiesta Cup. But main man Asi Taulava is up there individually as far as personal statistics are concerned.

The 6-foot-9 man-mountain emerged as the only local player to average in double figures in both scoring and rebounding as the import-laden tournament reaches its halfway mark.

Taulava averaged 15.83 points and 12.6 rebounds in six outings for the Tigers, while dishing out four assists per game to rank at no. 8 among local players.

Unfortunately, the Tigers are at the cellar of the 10-team standings with only a win to show in six games.

Meanwhile, Arwind Santos came out with the highest output among the locals with 145 points after seven games. That meant he had a 20.71 average, slightly better than his teammate Gary David, who produced 143 points for a 20.43 norm an outing.

Santos likewise was within the Top 10 in rebounds, even producing more than Dorian Pena of San Miguel Beer and Ranidel de Ocampo of Talk ‘N Text. The former FEU standout was sixth in the department with an 8.143 norm.

Jimmy Alapag of Talk ‘N Text was the No. 1 player in the assists department. The former Rookie of the Year is chipping seven per ball game, with Alex Cabagnot of the Tigers close behind at second spot with 6.0. Denok Miranda of Sta. Lucia is in third spot with an average of 5.7.

Purefoods’ Roger Yap and Topex Robinson are tied for the No. 1 spot in the steals category (1.5 per game) while Marlou Aquino, now playing like a rookie rather than a 13-year veteran, is way ahead in the shotblock division after already coming up with 25 in seven games for a 3.5 average.

Among the imports, Tiras Wade is leading the way with 36.5 points a game. He owns the conference high of 48 points, a performance he accomplished last March 14 when the Tropang Texters fought back from a 24-point deficit to beat Burger King 117-114.

Wade is one of only three imports to average in the 30s in scoring. The others are Scooter McFadgon of Barako Bull (33.0) and Sta. Lucia’s Anthony Johnson (32.71).

Jai Lewis, whose arrival at Rain or Shine turned the ball club into a feared contender, is tops at the rebounding department with 19.6. He is also fifth in scoring with a norm of 26.20.

Rod Nealy, who is reportedly being scrutinized by Ginebra whether to keep him or not, dishes out 5.143 assists a game, best among the reinforcements. He is also second in rebounds among imports with 16.


http://www.gmanews.tv/story/154836/Taulava-picks-up-big-numbers-while-Tigers-struggle