The Hidden Big Four in the PBA

(c) PBA Media Bureau

Brgy. Ginebra, San Miguel and Magnolia have built rosters that have more than four quality starting-caliber players. San Miguel has at least eight stars in their rotation. Ginebra has LA Tenorio, Scottie Thompson, Greg Slaughter, Japeth Aguilar and Joe Devance. While Magnolia has Ian Sangalang, Jio Jalalon, Paul Lee, Mark Barroca and Rafi Reavis.

One team that has silently built a good core of quality starting-caliber players is North Port Batang Pier. They may not have five right now but they have four and in their first two games, the three under-the-radar members have shown up.

Stanley Pringle has been the best player of the Batang Pier the moment he was drafted by the franchise. Last season, he led the league in scoring at 20.6 points, 1.2 higher than the mark of June Mar Fajardo. 

His three partners in the big four exhibited their value in his absence in their first two games of this conference.

Sean Anthony has been the most underrated player today and in the past two years, at least. In the last four conferences, Sean was a top 10 scorer, twice appearing in the top 3. Sean is not only a scorer but he fills up the stat sheet, pretty well. In the past four conferences, Sean averaged more than three assists and two steals per game. 

The next guy was drafted in the 2018 draft. Robert Bollick has been the face of the bench-to-MVP story because of his history in the collegiate ranks. In their first two games, Bollick exhibited his ability to fit very well, producing 10.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.

The last guy in this big four is the most interesting to me. No matter how good Stanley Pringle is, if they want to defeat the SMC squads in a playoff series, it will boil down to the capacity of Moala Tautuaa in handling the giants.

Moala has improved during his time with the Batang Pier. His production last conference could be a prelude of what is to come. Moala averaged 18.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 43% 3FG per game. If he can sustain his shooting, that could be a great equalizer against the other giants.

With these four players, North Port's present and future is lock-in. They just need to make sure that they have the right scheme to maximize their talents.