2019 Phil. Cup: These Players Playing Time Should go up!

(c) PBA Media Bureau

Last time we talked about the players that should be having lesser playing time moving forward. Let us now go to the positive side and present the ballers that deserved more.

Christian Standhardinger
Standhardinger deserves to play more than 32 minutes per game because he is one of the 10 best players in the league. He is only playing 27.8 minutes per game, producing 16.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists.

That is not comparable to his production in the 2018 Governors' Cup of 23.3 points, 13.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists. I do know that the spacing will be pretty tight if they will run him with June Mar Fajardo but I think there are ways to maximize them playing together.

Art Dela Cruz
It is unusual that Art is playing in the Philippine Cup. That could be the reason why coach Tim Cone is slow in integrating him into their rotation. In 14.4 minutes of play, he is averaging 5.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.0 steal per game.

Out of Ginebra's three in-prime forwards; Art, Mariano and Ferrer, Art is receiving the least amount of playing time. Art has the potential to be a smaller version of a Joe Devance. So, I am hoping coach Tim will give him more opportunity.

Michael DiGregorio
Michael legitimized himself as a starting caliber guard last season. He averaged 11.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 38% 3FG per game in the 2018 Governors' Cup. Now, his playing time is suddenly down to 22.4 because they need to give minutes to their price-rookie Paul Desiderio.

Honestly, though, Paul doesn't deserve the minutes that he is getting. It could be a big mistake if Blackwater doesn't see Michael as a starting caliber shooting guard because he has proven himself as a legit shooter who can hit catch and shoot and off-movements.

Norbert  Torres
With his size and ability to hit threes, I was always a believer of The Bear. Now that he is primed to break out, coach Caloy Garcia should find a way to not be a hindrance. In 18.6 minutes per game, he is averaging 10.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 50% 3FG.

With their aging frontline, Torres is their lone clear path to consistent production in the future. They need to make sure that they can secure that now.