This is a five-part blog on the best players of the PBA in the 2023-24 season.
For this list, I used this multiplier:
POINTS | 1.25
REBOUNDS | 1.5
ASSISTS | 2
STEALS | 2.5
BLOCKS | 2.75
To make the list, the players must have 400 total stats or more. To rank higher on the list, the players must have a combined average of 20 or more.
This list favors the teams with the most games. Gone are the days when the best team gets at least 60 games, but it’s safe to say that most players on this list had a combined 25 or more games.
40 | CALVIN ABUEVA | MAGNOLIA HOTSHOTS
2023-24 OVERALL TEAM RECORD | 21 – 13 (.618)
2023-24 PBA COMMISSIONER’S CUP FINALIST
2024 PBA ALL-STAR SELECTION
SEASON AVERAGES | 7.1PPG – 6.8RPG – 2.0APG – 1.1SPG
This season wasn't optimal for The Beast. Calvin Abueva's scoring average is a career-low and his field goal percentage is the second-lowest he ever recorded. He missed a chance to represent the country in the Asian Games where he could have been potentially a gold medalist. It also didn't help that his on-court and off-court antics released 120k from his wallet (the incidents that involved Jorge Gallent, Mo Tautuaa, and his middle finger.) Still, Abueva is one of the most popular players in the league and he helped the Magnolia Hotshots reach the PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals.
39 | AARON BLACK | MERALCO BOLTS
2023-24 OVERALL TEAM RECORD | 25 – 14 (.641)
2023-24 PBA PHILIPPINE CUP CHAMPION
SEASON AVERAGES | 9.6PPG – 5.3RPG – 3.2APG – 0.8SPG
Aaron Black finished the 2023-24 season with an ACL injury. His numbers also went down, and this is significant because this was the season Norman Black handed the coaching role to Luigi Trillo. But it's not like it's a total loss for the former Top Rookie. In fact, Black was slowly getting the groove of things in the Philippine Cup as before the injury, he was averaging 11.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 0.7 steals.
38 | JHONARD CLARITO | RAIN OR SHINE ELASTO PAINTERS
2023-24 OVERALL TEAM RECORD | 14 – 16 (.467)
2023-24 PBA PHILIPPINE CUP SEMIFINALIST
SEASON AVERAGES | 10.8PPG – 4.3RPG – 1.7APG – 0.7SPG
As a rookie, Jhonard Clarito averaged 1.3 points and 0.8 rebounds in 19 games and almost six minutes of action. Then, Yeng Guiao returned to Rain or Shine and decided to make a superstar out of the De Ocampo Memorial College Cobra. The turnaround was insane and Clarito went from a cameo player to a no-nonsense scorer. Jhonard finished the Philippine Cup with 12.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and the team's first semifinal finish since the 2019 PBA Commissioner's Cup.
37 | JAVEE MOCON | PHOENIX FUEL MASTERS
2023-24 OVERALL TEAM RECORD | 13 – 15 (.464)
2023-24 PBA COMMISSIONER’S CUP SEMIFINALIST
SEASON AVERAGES | 8.0PPG – 5.8RPG – 1.9APG – 1.3SPG
For the first time in six seasons, the former San Beda star failed to average in double figures. And this is mind-blowing, considering that Phoenix doesn't have a deep lineup. Still, Javee Mocon helped the squad claim their first semifinal stint since the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup. Mocon posted 8.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.7 blocks during the Philippine Cup.
36 | ADRIAN NOCUM | RAIN OR SHINE ELASTO PAINTERS
PBA DRAFT | ROUND 2 – PICK 24
2023-24 OVERALL TEAM RECORD | 14 – 16 (.467)
2023-24 PBA PHILIPPINE CUP SEMIFINALIST
SEASON AVERAGES | 11.7PPG – 3.4RPG – 2.8APG – 0.9SPG
The last pick of the second round is typically a death sentence for a possible top-tier PBA career. Just like his play alike Ato Agustin though, Renz Nocum proved his talents got the better of his draft rank. Foregoing his final year of NCAA eligibility, the Mapua Cardinal blossomed under Yeng Guiao's system, scoring 20 points in four games with a 29-point onslaught against the Meralco Bolts. During the Philippine Cup, Nocum averaged 12.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.0 steals.
35 | ALEC STOCKTON | CONVERGE FIBERXERS
2023-24 OVERALL TEAM RECORD | 3 – 19 (.136)
SEASON AVERAGES | 15.7PPG – 3.8RPG – 2.8APG – 0.7SPG
Apart from Kevin Racal, Alec Stockton is the only player left in Converge who wore the Alaska uniform. But while the FiberXers have nothing comparable to the winning tradition of the Aces, at least Stockton was able to elevate his game this season. The former FEU standout finished the season as the team's second-leading scorer and during the Philippine Cup, Stockton averaged 21.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.0 steals per game.
34 | BONG QUINTO | MERALCO BOLTS
2023-24 OVERALL TEAM RECORD | 25 – 14 (.641)
2023-24 PBA PHILIPPINE CUP CHAMPION
SEASON AVERAGES | 10.1PPG – 3.4RPG – 2.5APG
He is Mr. Utility for the Meralco Bolts. From defensive stopper to offensive threat, and everything else in between, Bong Quinto showed that he is ready to take his talents to the next level. Fortunately for him, his efforts are rewarded with his first-ever championship in the Philippine Cup. That said, his best numbers happened during the Commissioner's Cup, in which he had 10.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.0 assists.
33 | CADE FLORES | NORTHPORT BATANG PIER
PBA DRAFT | ROUND 1 – PICK 11
2023-24 OVERALL TEAM RECORD | 11 – 13 (.458)
SEASON AVERAGES | 9.3PPG – 7.2RPG – 2.1APG – 1.3SPG
Northport and Terrafirma have pretty identical builds. They have a key Fil-Am, a top UAAP player, and a great mix of NCAA and UAAP reliables in their lineups. It felt odd when Cade Flores came to Northport because they already have Arvin Tolentino and JM Calma in their team and Zav Lucero, who was a couple of picks before him in their lineup. With that said the Arellano Chief smashed his rookie year with a collection of double-double performances. Flores averaged 10.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.2 steals in the Philippine Cup.
32 | TROY ROSARIO | BLACKWATER BOSSING
2023-24 OVERALL TEAM RECORD | 5 – 17 (.227)
SEASON AVERAGES | 14.1PPG – 6.2RPG – 2.5APG – 0.8SPG
I thought of all the players TNT would trade, Troy Rosario's departure stung the most. The former NU Bulldog is the top "Bossing" in their squad, leading the team in points and rebounds. The worst thing about this fact is that Rosario struggled in the Commissioner's Cup. He picked up his awesomeness during the Philippine Cup, averaging 17.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 0.7 steals.
31 | JERICHO CRUZ | SAN MIGUEL BEERMEN
2023-24 OVERALL TEAM RECORD | 33 – 11 (.750)
2023-24 PBA COMMISSIONER’S CUP CHAMPION
2023-24 PBA PHILIPPINE CUP FINALIST
SEASON AVERAGES | 10.6PPG – 2.9RPG – 2.0APG – 0.7SPG
The Guam National Team member's offense was seriously missed during their showdown against the Meralco Bolts. This is because Jericho Cruz was on fire during San Miguel's Commissioner's Cup run where he posted averages of 12.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 0.9 steals. Overall, Cruz raised his scoring numbers this season and is one of six players averaging 9.5 points and higher for the Beermen, and is seen as one of the vital cogs for their championship aspirations in future conferences.