POWER RANKINGS | 2025-26 RACE TO THE MVP (AFTER 2 CONFERENCES)

Wazap.

The race for the MVP award is about to reach the end now that the Philippine Cup and the Commissioner's Cup are officially in the books.

While individual brilliance has already separated several stars from the pack, team success has proven to be just as important in determining who will ultimately take home the league's top individual honor and earn a place on the Mythical First or Second Team.

With only the Governors' Cup left on the calendar, every game will carry extra weight as the MVP contenders make one final push to strengthen their cases before the votes are cast.

Who are the top contenders?

Here are 20 of them.

Game starts now!

20 | JORDAN HEADING | TNT

45 GAMES | 13.36PPG - 3.22RPG - 3.04APG - 0.71SPG

PHILIPPINE CUP | RUNNER-UP

COMMISSIONER'S CUP | RUNNER-UP

Jordan Heading has quietly put together a solid campaign while helping TNT reach the Finals in both conferences. Although his numbers may not be enough to put him in the MVP conversation, his impressive shooting and playmaking keep him in the mix for at least a Mythical Team selection.

19 | JHONARD CLARITO | RAIN OR SHINE

32 GAMES | 11.47PPG - 6.78RPG - 2.19APG - 1.31SPG

COMMISSIONER'S CUP | SEMIFINALS

PHILIPPINE CUP | QUARTERFINALS

Air Jhonard has emerged as one of Rain or Shine's most dependable two-way players, while helping the Elasto Painters reach the Commissioner's Cup semifinals and the Philippine Cup quarterfinals. His all-around production and consistent effort make him a legitimate candidate for a Mythical Team conversation, especially if his numbers coincide with Rain or Shine's finish in the Governors' Cup.

18 | RICCI RIVERO | PHOENIX

22 GAMES | 17.77PPG - 5.91RPG - 2.45APG - 0.95SPG - 0.36BPG

COMMISSIONER'S CUP | QUARTERFINALS

Ricci Rivero has enjoyed a breakout campaign this season, emerging as Phoenix's primary offensive weapon with the injury to Kai Ballungay. A deep Governors' Cup run coupled with another strong scoring season could put Rivero in contention for the Most Improved Player award despite Phoenix's subpar showings in the first two conferences.

17 | JERRICK AHANMISI | SAN MIGUEL

23 GAMES | 18.35PPG - 3.78RPG - 3.48APG - 1.22SPG

STARTED SEASON WITH TERRAFIRMA |

TRADED TO SMB BEFORE THE GOVERNORS' CUP

Jerrick Ahanmisi put together an outstanding individual campaign as Terrafirma's primary offensive option after his stint with Magnolia. However, Terrafirma's failure to reach the playoffs in both the Philippine Cup and the Commissioner's Cup is what's dragging his stock for at least a Mythical Second Team selection. Now with San Miguel, Ahanmisi will likely see his scoring numbers decline, but at least he has the chance to win his first PBA title.

16 | SEDRICK BAREFIELD | BLACKWATER

22 GAMES | 20.23PPG - 3.82RPG - 3.64APG

Sedrick Barefield has been carrying much of Blackwater's offensive load since his debut in 2024. However, Blackwater's failure to reach the playoffs since his debut severely weakens his case for individual awards despite his impressive production. I mean, if what he's saying is true, who can blame him for looking for other playing opportunities?

15 | CALVIN ABUEVA | CONVERGE

17 GAMES | 17.47PPG - 8.53RPG - 2.65APG - 1.24SPG - 0.76BPG

STARTED SEASON WITH TITAN ULTRA |

TRADED TO CONVERGE BEFORE THE COMMISSIONER'S CUP

PHILIPPINE CUP | QUARTERFINALS

The Beast showcased his trademark all-around impact with Titan Ultra at the start of the season, averaging almost 24 points and 12 rebounds in the process. His scoring then dipped after his move to Converge due to his health and the team's wealth of offensive options. If Abueva returns to full strength and helps Converge contend for a championship in the Governors' Cup, he still has a realistic chance to win a big-time individual award.

14 | CHRIS NEWSOME | MERALCO

36 GAMES | 15.03PPG - 3.44RPG - 3.14APG - 0.86SPG

PHILIPPINE CUP | SEMIFINALS

COMMISSIONER'S CUP | SEMIFINALS

New-New continues to prove why he's one of the PBA's premier guards, despite sharing more offensive responsibilities with the emergence of CJ Cansino. His steady production and Meralco's semifinal finishes in both the Philippine Cup and the Commissioner's Cup keep him firmly in the conversation for a Mythical Team selection, and a strong Governors' Cup and another deep playoff run could be enough for him to secure a spot on the Mythical First or Second Team.

13 | JUSTIN ARANA | CONVERGE

23 GAMES | 15.13PPG - 8.35RPG - 3.04APG

PHILIPPINE CUP | QUARTERFINALS

Justin Arana got off to a strong start in the Philippine Cup, but his production tapered off in the Commissioner's Cup as he shared minutes with the import and adjusted to a deeper Converge roster that added Calvin Abueva and Mikey Williams. Even so, Arana remains a strong candidate for a Mythical Team selection, especially with a dominant run in the Governors' Cup, with Converge finally breaking the SMC/MVP glass ceiling.

12 | ADRIAN NOCUM | RAIN OR SHINE

32 GAMES | 15.25PPG - 3.25RPG - 2.75APG - 1.59SPG

COMMISSIONER'S CUP | SEMIFINALS

PHILIPPINE CUP | QUARTERFINALS

Despite Rain or Shine's no-superstar philosophy, Adrian Nocum has consistently found ways to get his numbers, establishing himself as one of the Elasto Painters' leaders. If Nocum can lead Rain or Shine to an even deeper run in the Governors' Cup while maintaining his all-around numbers, the former Mapúa Cardinal has a legit shot to claim his first Mythical Team berth.

11 | CJ CANSINO | MERALCO

38 GAMES | 15.71PPG - 4.13RPG - 1.5APG - 1.16SPG

PHILIPPINE CUP | SEMIFINALS

COMMISSIONER'S CUP | SEMIFINALS

CJ Cansino followed up a good rookie year with a more impressive sophomore campaign, as one of Meralco's primary scorers. That said, his tendency to fade in the playoffs and shift the offensive responsibility back to Chris Newsome could hurt his case for major individual honors despite the Bolts reaching the semifinals of both the Philippine Cup and the Commissioner's Cup. If Cansino can sustain his production throughout the Governors' Cup and deliver in the postseason, Cansino has a legit shot for a Mythical Team spot.

10 | JUAN GÓMEZ DE LIAÑO | CONVERGE

22 GAMES | 17.55PPG - 6.5RPG - 5.86APG - 1SPG

PHILIPPINE CUP | QUARTERFINALS

Juan GDL has enjoyed a sensational rookie season and is seen at arm's length as one of the PBA's premier young guards, despite Converge falling short of expectations in both conferences. Gomez de Liano has been the clear frontrunner for Rookie of the Year and has even strengthened his case as one of the top guards in Gilas Pilipinas. If he can lead Converge to a deep Governors' Cup run, Juan GDL has a very realistic chance of cracking the Mythical First Team, if they disregard positions, since his slot runs smack into that of RJ Abarrientos.

9 | CALVIN OFTANA | TNT

48 GAMES | 15.98PPG - 6.13RPG - 1.85APG - 0.79SPG

PHILIPPINE CUP | RUNNER-UP

COMMISSIONER'S CUP | RUNNER-UP

Calvin Oftana continues to lead TNT as their main offensive gun. That said, his production dipped somewhat in the Commissioner's Cup, with the Tropang 5G leaning heavily on imports Bol Manute Bol and Chris McCullough, and with injuries slowing him down during the Finals. Even with those setbacks, the former San Beda ace played a key role in TNT's runner-up finishes in both conferences. A Mythical Team selection for him is mute and academic, but where he lands will depend on TNT's finish in the Governors' Cup.

8 | JUSTINE BALTAZAR | CONVERGE

25 GAMES | 13.6PPG - 11.88RPG - 2.48APG - 1.04SPG

PHILIPPINE CUP | QUARTERFINALS

Balti has been a double-double machine for Converge while anchoring the team's frontcourt. That said, his numbers could have been even better had he not shared touches with Converge's talent-stacked roster. But while those team results would likely keep him out of the MVP race for now, a dominant Governors' Cup could propel the two-time MPBL MVP into the Mythical First Team discussion.

7 | JOSHUA MUNZON | TITAN ULTRA

23 GAMES | 20.61PPG - 3.87RPG - 4.52APG - 2.39SPG

His numbers have meat. Joshua Munzon has blossomed into one of the league's most productive guards, while almost-single-handedly carrying Titan Ultra's offense following Calvin Abueva's departure. Unfortunately, with the Giant Risers missing the playoffs in both conferences, his outstanding individual numbers have done little to strengthen even a Mythical Team selection. If the ongoing trade talks send Munzon to a legitimate contender before or during the Governors' Cup, or if, for some reason, Titan Ultra finds themselves at the top of the standings, there is a slim chance that his farm team tenure might amount to something.

6 | CJAY PEREZ | SAN MIGUEL

37 GAMES | 18.68PPG - 3.86RPG - 3.49APG - 1.38SPG

PHILIPPINE CUP | CHAMPION

COMMISSIONER'S CUP | QUARTERFINALS

CJ Perez once again paced San Miguel in scoring, while helping the Beermen capture the Philippine Cup championship. The only thing ALWAYS working against his MVP bid is that he shares the spotlight with June Mar Fajardo. If Perez continues to produce at this level and guides the Beermen to another deep Governors' Cup run, he should be a strong bet for the Mythical First Team and remain firmly in the MVP conversation, especially if he does enough to really upstage JMF's numbers.

5 | ZAVIER LUCERO | MAGNOLIA

26 GAMES | 15.65PPG - 9.23RPG - 2.12APG - 1.08SPG - 2BPG

PHILIPPINE CUP | QUARTERFINALS

COMMISSIONER'S CUP | QUARTERFINALS

Zavier Lucero has quietly put together one of the most complete statistical seasons in the league since the days of Arwind Santos. However, Magnolia's back-to-back quarterfinal exits in the Philippine Cup and the Commissioner's Cup have overshadowed his outstanding production and limited his chances of climbing higher in terms of individual accolades. If Lucero can carry the Hotshots beyond the quarterfinals in the Governors' Cup while maintaining his all-around dominance, he should be a lock for the Mythical First Team.

4 | ROBERT BOLICK | NLEX

22 GAMES | 19.14PPG - 5.23RPG - 8.27APG - 1.5SPG

PHILIPPINE CUP | QUARTERFINALS

COMMISSIONER'S CUP | QUARTERFINALS

Berto has once again proven why he's one of the league's elite guards, which is a good thing for Jimmy Alapag now that he's going to call the shots for the Road Warriors. However, despite his outstanding all-around production, consecutive quarterfinal exits in the Philippine Cup and the Commissioner's Cup have kept him just outside the top tier of the MVP race. If Bolick can finally lead NLEX to its first-ever PBA championship in the Governors' Cup, I bet he won't just be a lock for his first Mythical First Team selection, but perhaps even more.

3 | SCOTTIE THOMPSON | GINEBRA

44 GAMES | 13.45PPG - 6.89RPG - 5.55APG - 1.43SPG

COMMISSIONER'S CUP | FINALS MVP

COMMISSIONER'S CUP | CHAMPION

PHILIPPINE CUP | SEMIFINALS

Scottie continues to fill the stat sheet, proving that even with RJ Abarrientos grabbing much of the spotlight, he remains the heartbeat of Barangay Ginebra's championship drive. His all-around brilliance, coupled with a Commissioner's Cup championship and Finals MVP honors, keeps him firmly in the conversation as one of the league's best. If Thompson leads Ginebra to another title in the Governors' Cup, he should be a lock for the Mythical First Team. A Governors' Cup BPC? Well, that could catapult him to perhaps his second MVP.

2 | RJ ABARRIENTOS | GINEBRA

45 GAMES | 18.93PPG - 3.40RPG - 4.47APG - 1.31SPG

COMMISSIONER'S CUP | BEST PLAYER OF THE CONFERENCE

COMMISSIONER'S CUP | CHAMPION

PHILIPPINE CUP | SEMIFINALS

RJ Abarrientos has taken a massive leap in just his second PBA season, which led to him capturing the Commissioner's Cup BPC and helping Ginebra win the championship. Already viewed as the franchise's point guard of the future, Abarrientos has firmly established himself as one of the league's brightest stars, although sharing the spotlight with Scottie Thompson and competing against June Mar Fajardo for the league's top individual honor complicates his MVP case. If the former FEU Tamaraw can spearhead another championship run in the Governors' Cup, winning his second BPC in the process, RJ should be a lock to replicate his uncle's 1996 feat to become the second Abarrientos to win the MVP award.

1 | JUNE MAR FAJARDO | SAN MIGUEL

37 GAMES | 17PPG - 16.14RPG - 3.22APG - 0.81SPG - 0.89BPG

PHILIPPINE CUP | BEST PLAYER OF THE CONFERENCE

PHILIPPINE CUP | FINALS MVP

PHILIPPINE CUP | CHAMPION

COMMISSIONER'S CUP | QUARTERFINALS

Will it be number ten for The Kraken? June Mar Fajardo's individual numbers remain the league's gold standard, while leading the Beermen to the Philippine Cup championship, winning both the BPC and Finals MVP awards. Although the Beermen stumbled in the Commissioner's Cup, San Miguel's revolving door of imports often forced Fajardo to shoulder an even bigger load in rebounds, resulting in another dominant statistical campaign, particularly on the glass. If the Beermen return to the Finals in the Governors' Cup, it's automatic that "The Kraken" will cruise to a historic 10th Most Valuable Player award.

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Of course, these stats are unofficial, and with the Governors' Cup still to be played, a lot can still change. A championship contender will likely play around 25 games in the conference, giving players from teams like San Miguel, Ginebra, and TNT plenty of opportunities to strengthen their MVP cases.

That said, every contender has something working against them. June Mar Fajardo shares the spotlight with CJ Perez, Calvin Oftana's injury could affect his campaign, and Ginebra teammates RJ Abarrientos and Scottie Thompson may end up splitting votes.

It's shaping up to be a thrilling race to the finish!

Do you agree with this list? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!