Beermen Jay Washington and Arwind Santos are pacing Tropang Texters Harvey Carey and Ali Peek, the league’s latest version of the “Bruise Brothers” in the standings. They ranked second to fifth—to Joe Devance of the also-ran Alaska—as voting started last Monday.

Devance ranked first in the statistical points race with a 34.24 average but played just 17 total games compared to the Beermen and Texters who have each seen action in 21 games overall until the end of the semifinals.

Though the top five players in the statistical points derby are automatically named as candidates for the award, voters usually don’t consider those coming from ousted teams.

Voters usually select players whose teams made it to the finals.

Alaska bowed out in the quarterfinals after losing its last two games to Barangay Ginebra in their best-of-three series.

Washington, who averaged 15.8 points and 10 rebounds in 21 games for the Beermen, has a 33.3 average.

Santos came next with 32.52, followed by Carey with 30.33 and Peek with 29.52. Air21 rookie Rabeh Al-Hussaini finished his maiden tournament with a 29.27 average.

Hussaini, picked second overall by the Express behind Ateneo teammate Nonoy Baclao, was the only rookie in the Top 20. The next best rookie, Hans Thiele of Meralco, wound up 25th overall with a 24.87 average.

The 6-foot-4 Peek is the only other player in the Top 25 to finish with double-double averages after norming 13.8 points and 11.1 rebounds a night for the Texters. His rebounding average is second in the league only to Barangay Ginebra’s Rudy Hatfield.

Hatfield, incidentally, was the best-placed Gin King in the rankings at seventh with a 29.26 average. In 23 games, he averaged 9.6 points and 2.7 assists.

Dondon Hontiveros was the third San Miguel player in the Top 10, running eighth with a 28.62 average, followed by Jimmy Alapag of Talk ‘N Text with 28.38 built around a tournament-best 5.8 assists per game average.

Meralco cornerstone Mac Cardona rounded out the Top 10 with a 28.29 average boosted by a 21.4 points per game average that ranked second in the tournament to Powerade’s Gary David’s 21.5.

Incidentally, David was in 11th spot with 27.93.

Meanwhile, Olsen Racela, San Miguel’s “Iron Man” with 18 years of experience in the league, formally bid the league adieu before last night’s Game 3 of the title series.

Fighting tears while addressing fans at center court, Racela thanked San Miguel’s big bosses, his teammates, present and former coaches. He exhorted Danny Seigle and Danny Ildefonso to “make one more run (at a championship).”

The 40-year-old Racela, who started his career with Chot Reyes at Purefoods in 1993 as the 12th overall choice in the Draft, will call it quits at the end of this series after playing more than 900 games and winning nine championships.

Musong Castillo, Phil. Daily Inquirer