The Impact of Lending Players to the National Team In the Next 3 Weeks


Seven PBA teams will showcase their "nationalism" in the next three weeks as they let their players in the Gilas 12 prepare and compete in SEABA.

SEABA will happen on May 12-18, 2017. The players will probably ask for some resting time which means the seven teams will need to endure around 3 weeks without them.

Let us check the possible impact on each team, involve.

TNT - Jayson Castro, RR Pogoy, Troy Rosario
Schedule:
May 5 - VS SMB
May 10 - VS STAR
May 20 - VS ALA

I think, three players is too much. Playing those three games without the three Gilas players means a big possibility of taking three Ls. Taking three Ls could put them into a twice-to-beat disadvantage in the quarterfinals.



Without them, Donte Greene will be pushed into the microscope. He is a legit NBA veteran. Can he finally play like one if the team is fully running through him? Moala Tautuaa could also see more opportunity to showcase his wares and get back his confidence, just in time for the playoffs.

STAR - Jio Jalalon, Allein Maliksi

Schedule: 
May 6 - VS Rain or Shine
May 10 - TNT

The depth of the Hotshots will be challenge in their next two games. Allein Maliksi and Jio Jalalon have big responsibilities on the backcourt and wing of the team. Fortunately, they will play a more depleted TNT during their absence.

I am very intrigue with what coach Chito will do. Allein is their lone legit-SF in the team. Will Ramos gets more minutes in the three? Will we see plenty of Paul Lee at the 3 spot?

The fact is, I want to see more Paul Lee at small forward. With his heft and his playmaking ability, I expect him to handle it even in a long period of playing time.

SMB - June Mar Fajardo
Schedule:
May 5 - VS TNT
May 19 - VS NLEX

Fajardo is the best player in the league but they will only play TNT and NLEX, without him. Not much will change. They are still the super-heavy favorite.

GBP - Terrence Romeo
Schedule:
May 5 - VS PHX
May 10 - VS MER

Globalport is battling for their lives. Unfortunately, they will  miss the offensive-core of their team when they meet Phoenix, that will miss Matthew Wright, their main rival for the 8th spot.

Here is my big question, though. What if we see a much better team? What if running through Stanley Pringle makes the team better? And with better team play, they win the two games without Terrence. What will Globalport do?

ALA - Calvin abueva
Schedule:
May 7 - VS BGSM
May 20 - VS TNT

The Beast is not that much aggressive this conference. Per 36 minutes, he is only taking 14.0 shots and producing 20.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists. His Gilas stint could refresh him and he will return as a better The Beast version.

The problem could be the fact that they will miss their best local rebounder, knowing that they are already the worst rebounding team, so far. Maybe, Carl Bryan Cruz could make a good The Beast impression.

BGSM - Japeth Aguilar
Schedule:
May 7 - VS ALA
May 19 - VS ROS
May 21 - VS SMB

The Kings will miss their tallest rotation player in their next two games. Even without Fajardo, SMB will still be a tough customer for Ginebra. The guards of Alaska and Rain or Shine will have easier time driving to the paint without Aguilar.

This will be a great test again for coach Tim Cone. One thing that I am excited to see is more minutes for Jericho De Guzman. Or, how about a small-ball five with Brownlee at center?

PHX - Matthew Wright
Schedule:
May 5 - VS GBP
May 21 - VS MAH

Phoenix has a light schedule, in comparison to the other teams in this list. The bad news is, they will miss their best decoy and playmaker in Wright. Losing their game against Globalport will be a deadly blow to their playoff chances.

ROS - Raymond Almazan
Schedule:
May 6 - VS STAR
May 19 - VS BGSM

The Elasto Painters will slug it out with two of the teams above them. Fortunately, Raymond Almazan's role in the team is not that big with Shawn Taggart. They will still miss the rim-protection of Raymond but I expect Jay Washington to be a stabilizing force, without him.

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