Discover the Top 10 Standing PBA 2019 Rankings and Player Statistics

I still remember watching that practice session back in 2019 like it was yesterday. There was this electric moment when one of the PBA's rising stars caught the ball during scrimmage, flashed that signature smile at his teammate, and executed what I can only describe as the smoothest slow-motion layup I've ever witnessed. That particular practice session became legendary among insiders, and it perfectly captures why the 2019 PBA season remains one of the most memorable in recent basketball history. The standing rankings that year told only part of the story - the real magic happened in those unscripted moments between players who genuinely enjoyed competing at the highest level.

When we look at the official 2019 PBA standings, June Mar Fajardo naturally dominated the statistics with his consistent 18.7 points and 12.3 rebounds per game average. But what the numbers don't show is how his presence transformed the entire league's defensive strategies. I recall talking to coaches who would lose sleep trying to figure out how to contain him, only to watch him dismantle their game plans with what appeared to be effortless precision. Right behind him in the rankings stood Stanley Pringle, who averaged 16.9 points that season with a three-point percentage that hovered around 38% - respectable numbers, but they don't capture his incredible court vision that made everyone around him better. Watching Pringle play was like observing a chess master at work; he was always three moves ahead of everyone else.

The third spot went to Christian Standhardinger, who put up 15.8 points and 9.7 rebounds per contest. Now here's where my personal bias might show - I've always believed Standhardinger never quite received the recognition he deserved. His efficiency rating of 19.3 that season was phenomenal, yet he often flew under the radar because his style wasn't as flashy as some of his contemporaries. I remember specifically watching him during the Governor's Cup where he recorded 24 points and 14 rebounds against Ginebra - one of those performances that stat sheets can't fully do justice. The way he moved without the ball and created space in crowded paint areas was simply masterful.

What made the 2019 rankings particularly fascinating was how they reflected the league's evolving style of play. The traditional big men were still dominant, but we began seeing guards like Paul Lee (fifth in rankings with 14.3 points per game) demonstrating that perimeter shooting was becoming increasingly crucial. Lee's 42% shooting from beyond the arc during the Commissioner's Cup was a clear indicator of where the game was heading. Meanwhile, veterans like Jayson Castro held their ground at sixth position with 13.9 points and 5.2 assists per game, proving that experience still mattered tremendously in high-pressure situations.

The middle of the pack featured some of the most exciting players to watch. Matthew Wright secured the seventh spot with his 13.5 points average, but what impressed me most was his 85% free throw percentage - the man was virtually automatic from the charity stripe. Then there was Terrence Romeo at eighth position with 13.2 points, though his playing time was limited to just 18 games due to injuries. When healthy though, Romeo brought a creative flair to the game that few could match. I'll never forget his 31-point explosion against Phoenix that season - it was offensive artistry at its finest.

Completing our top ten were Marcio Lassiter and Arwind Santos, both putting up around 12.5 points per game. Lassiter's three-point shooting at 39% made him a constant threat, while Santos continued to defy age with his versatile defensive capabilities. What many casual fans might not realize is how Santos' ability to guard multiple positions fundamentally changed how coaches could deploy their defensive schemes. His 1.8 steals and 1.3 blocks per game don't fully capture his defensive impact.

Reflecting on that 2019 season, I can't help but feel it represented a transitional period for the PBA. The statistics tell us about individual excellence, but they miss the camaraderie and competitive spirit that made that season special. Those practice sessions where established veterans would mentor younger players, the way competitors could share a laugh mid-game like that memorable practice moment I witnessed - these intangible elements contributed as much to the quality of play as any training regimen. The rankings give us a framework for understanding player performance, but the true beauty of that season lived in between the numbers - in those spontaneous interactions that reminded us these athletes weren't just statistical entities but artists mastering their craft. The 2019 season set the stage for the modern PBA era, blending traditional post dominance with perimeter excellence in ways we're still seeing evolve today.