Every week, ESPN5.com contributor and ESPN5 PBA anchor Charlie Cuna rates the five best rookies of the 2019 PBA season. Here is his list for the period covering March 11 to 17, 2019.
If Week 7 was tough on the rookies, Week 8 was even rougher for them. Coaches relied mostly on veterans to take over games and the rookies did not see as much action, owing to the playoff pushes of the different squads. Still, some managed to squeeze in noteworthy performances.
1. Javee Mocon, Rain or Shine Elastopainters (week's averages: 10 points, seven rebounds, three assists, one steal in over 23 minutes in one game)
Mocon has no doubt been the most consistent among the top performing rookies from week to week. What stands out with him does not necessarily show up on the stat sheet. Against Meralco on Friday, Mocon was his usual right place at the right time rookie, who set screens for his teammates, boxed out properly, and found time to score, rebound, and pass enough to impress the commentators on board (Chuck Araneta and Jolly Escobar) for them to name him the Best Player of the Game. That was not the first time for him to earn the honor and the reason is clear - he has basketball wisdom beyond his years and a willingness to do whatever it takes to help his team. Coach Caloy Garcia can only smile about the performance of his team's top rookie choice.
2. Abu Tratter, Blackwater Elite (week's averages: 16 points, 12 rebounds, one assist, 1 steal in just over 27 minutes in one game)
The Blackwater Elite were getting spanked by NLEX on Sunday, but they showed some heart and grit as they fought back to trim a huge deficit considerably before finally falling short. Tratter, who had not played much in a couple of games prior to this one, entered the game in the second period and immediately went to work. Eager to show what he had already exhibited in the Elite's first few games, he attacked the basket and scored with a foul to boot. He missed the bonus free throw though. But Abu was active until the end, being a presence inside and working hard. He shot 60% from the field, including some perimeter jumpers, and regardless of the final score, battled against Poy Erram, an elite PBA center at present, and the other NLEX frontliners, and was able to put up outstanding numbers.
3. Paul Desiderio, Blackwater Elite (week's averages: 12 points, four rebounds, one assist, two of four three-pointers in just over 19 minutes in one game)
Desiderio goes hard all the time. It may seem as though he was forcing things at times on Sunday against NLEX, but considering how futile other options were, he, as he would back in his UP days, tried to make things happen. He shot 50% from the field on both twos and threes and expressed willingness to battle even if others would not. Unafraid to go inside for rebounds, his offensive board and put-back seemed to catch the bigger opponents off-guard. His presence is felt when he is in the game and he makes mostly good decisions.
4. C.J Perez, Columbian Dyip (week's averages: 14 points, one rebound, one steal in 28.36 minutes in one game)
C.J.'s shooting was considerably better (five of 11 for 45%) than the previous week, but his overall game was sub-par for his standards. He grabbed only one rebound and did not have an assist, although he did not commit a turnover. His team, however, was manhandled by Magnolia on Wednesday and, though he tried, he could not get his team's offense flowing against the determined Hotshots.
5. Diego Dario, Blackwater Elite (week's averages: six points, two rebounds, nine assists, zero turnovers in 25.46 minutes in one game)
Yes, Blackwater was blown out, but Dario, a first-timer on this list, completes a triple appearance from Elite rookies from the past week. While his jumper is still very iffy (two of nine from the field, including just one of six threes), he made the most of his extended minutes by trying to orchestrate his team's offense, as shown by a career-high nine assists. His assist to turnover ratio was impeccable. At the very least, he gives Coach Bong Ramos another option at point guard when the elder, more seasoned ones are playing sub-par. The shooting, though, must improve.