Father time is undefeated. Basketball eats up those who cannot keep up. For the upcoming 2017-2018 season of the PBA, you expect at least three players to be removed from their job as starters and sit at the bench.
These three are my top candidates.
Reynel Hugnatan
I doubt Papa Rey ever had a hater in the PBA universe. The guy is hardworker like no other that it is really hard to hate the guy. But, after his vintage Finals performance in the Governors' Cup, it will be unrealistic to even ask for another last hurrah.
With Ranidel de Ocampo there, Reynel will settle down as the third bigman of the Bolts in their frontline rotation. Expect Meralco to be creative and find bigs in the free-agency market or through trade.
Jeff Chan
It was a huge shocker when we found out that Rain or Shine traded him. Now with the young and rising Phoenix fuel masters, Jeff will be push into a mentor-off-the-bench spark role. Matthew Wright and JC Intal will settle down as the wing of the Fuel Masters.
The arrival of Perkins to play the PF position will make it hard for Jeff to find any playing time. His production also last season was not encouraging to believe that he can still be a starting caliber wing for the upcoming season.
Alex Cabagnot
Surprise! The Crunchman just had his best season and now I am predicting him to regress? Am I insane? Not really. Alex did produce his highest point and rebound production in his career at 15.8 and 5.5 per game, but his efficiency was a mess.
He shot 37.8% from the field and 31.8% from beyond the arc. And the arrival of Christian Standhardinger may not really push Arwind Santos out of the starting five but it could be Alex Cabagnot.
Playing Arwind at the SF position will give SMB a tall, dominant, unstoppable frontline. They can defend anybody with their length, control the rebound and bully any team, including Ginebra.
And, Alex can thrive coming off-the-bench.
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