(c) PBA Media Bureau
After one month of competition, TNT Ka Tropa and Northport Batang Pier retained their spots at the top of the standings. While the strongest roster in the league, San Miguel Beermen, are currently 1-3.
So, how should we rank the 12 teams?
Let us see.
#12 Columbian Dyip (Last Ranking, #12)
With a new import in town, Dyip will try to resurrect their campaign. Lester Prosper is an inside operator which is fine for a team with a lot of bigs who can shoot threes.
#11 NLEX Road Warriors (Last Ranking, #11)
NLEX is one loss away from being eliminated. They are currently winless after their first six games. Jericho Cruz made a pretty good debut of 6 points, 3 rebounds and 8 assists. Still, he is not enough to carry this team in their last five games.
#10 Alaska Aces (Last Ranking, #10)
They are 4-3 currently, and at the 4th position. But, they may have just made a crucial mistake of replacing Chris Daniels with Nino Johnson who was unplayable in his debut. One more reason not to trust the Aces is the inconsistency of their locals, other than Chris Banchero.
#9 Phoenix Fuel Masters (Last Ranking, #8)
Losing Calvin Abueva due to the suspension may just have ended the contention of the Fuel Masters this conference. Same with the Aces, Phoenix also has a problem about the support of the local players because Matthew Wright is the only local, other than Abueva, who are averaging double-digits in points.
#8 Meralco Bolts (Last Ranking, #9)
Gani Lawal, who is averaging 26.3 points, 21.4 rebounds and 56% FG per game, went home to nurse an injury. And I think he is carrying with him the contention of Meralco Bolts. His replacement, Jimmie Taylor, was so-so in his debut, making 13 points and 18 rebounds.
#7 Blackwater Elite (Last Ranking, #7)
The Elite is having a great elimination round by winning five of their first seven games. The playoffs will be much different though because, in that level, their weakness of not having a reliable giant stopper will be magnified.
#6 Magnolia Hotshots (Last Ranking, #4)
After winning the 2018 Governors' Cup, the Hotshots should be familiar with the importance of having a very good import. It seems like they will be patient with James Farr who is manufacturing 19.0 points, 15.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 3.0 steals and 37% FG per game. Can he carry them in the playoffs? I doubt it.
#5 Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (Last Ranking, #5)
Rain or Shine may have hit the jackpot with Denzel Bowles who is the fifth best scorer of this conference and ninth in terms of assists. Other than Denzel, Ray Nambatac is having a good start to the conference, producing 12.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 48% FG and 43% 3FG per game.
#4 Northport Batang Pier (Last Ranking, #6)
I am a believer of Northport Batang Pier for this conference. They just won five of their six games with Stanley Pringle playing only two of those games. What I like with what they are doing is that the scoring is actually a responsibility of the locals and the locals, led by Robert Bollick, are delivering! With Moala Tautuaa there, they have a guy to face-up the local giants of the other contenders.
#3 Brgy. Ginebra San Miguel (Last Ranking, #3)
Why are they still lower than the San Miguel Beermen whom they have just beaten last Sunday? Because to win that game, they played Justin Brownlee the whole game! Yes, he played 53 minutes! Imports will carry the team in the playoffs but you cannot over-rely on them.
#2 San Miguel Beermen (Last Ranking, #1)
Do not worry about the Beermen, they will not miss the playoffs. I still believe that their biggest problem right now is the fact that they have an import who is taking a lot of shots from their locals. That doesn't mean that Charles Rhodes is not an elite import. He is an elite import but the fit is pretty bad.
#1 TNT Ka Tropa (Last Ranking, #2)
Here is our new number 1! They have the best import in Terrence Jones and with him leading the way, they have a path to the championship, Terrence presence has helped the locals play better with RR Pogoy leading the way. Three-point shooting is crucial for them and with three local players shooting better than 43%, they are doing fine.
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