Barangay Ginebra San Miguel finds itself in an unfamiliar and uncomfortable position in the Philippine Cup standings. With a $3-4$ record (as of November 16, 2025) and clinging to the $8^{th}$ spot, the perennial title favorites are struggling in a tournament that has proven to be far more competitive than anticipated, marked by the rapid ascent of teams like Converge and the sustained excellence of Rain or Shine, TNT, San Miguel, and Magnolia.
While Ginebra possesses one of the four deepest rosters in the league, a radical, almost unthinkable strategy must be considered: tanking out the rest of the Philippine Cup.
The Case for the Plunge: Aging Frontcourt and The 2026 Draft
This strategy is not about giving up on the season; it’s about making a calculated sacrifice in the All-Filipino conference to secure the franchise's long-term future.
1. The Aging Frontcourt Problem
A cold look at Ginebra’s roster reveals a harsh truth. Key players in their core are squarely on the other side of $30$. Most critically, their frontline—the heart of their championship pedigree—is showing the wear and tear of countless playoff battles.
Japeth Aguilar is
1 $38$ years old.2 Norbert Torres is $35$ years old.
Troy Rosario is
3 $33$ years old.4 Raymond Aguilar is
5 $40$ years old.6
With key players like Japeth Aguilar (the $6'9"$ anchor) and the recently acquired Troy Rosario experiencing minor injuries, the Philippine Cup is draining the mileage on their aging legs. The priority should shift to getting them healthy for the import conferences where Ginebra is historically dominant.
2. The Golden Draft Opportunity
The true brilliance of this calculated tank lies in the timing: the 2026 PBA Draft is widely expected to be historically deep.
By intentionally allowing themselves to fall into one of the four worst records in the league (Terrafirma, Blackwater, Titan, and Phoenix are currently below them), Ginebra can potentially secure two generational pieces in a single draft:
The Terrafirma Pick (Likely #1): Ginebra currently holds a future first-round pick from Terrafirma.
7 Given Terrafirma's current $1-6$ record and history as a bottom-feeder, that pick is highly likely to fall at the #1 position in the 2026 Draft.Their Own Pick (Minimum #7): By tanking their way to a $4-7$ record (placing them at the $9^{th}$ to $12^{th}$ spot), their own pick would likely land around the Top 7. The current worst teams are struggling mightily, but by finishing in the bottom four, Ginebra secures the best odds for their own selection.
The expectation is that a top 7 pick in the 2026 draft could be equivalent to a top 3 pick in a usual draft due to the sheer depth of talent available. Securing the #1 pick (via Terrafirma) and a Top 7 pick (Ginebra's own) would allow Ginebra to secure the next decade of their franchise's basketball in one single, momentous draft.
The Unthinkable Decision
Coach Tim Cone and the Ginebra faithful pride themselves on competing for every title. Tanking is fundamentally against the 'Never-Say-Die' spirit. However, the current situation presents a rare confluence of an aging core, a surprisingly difficult Philippine Cup, and an unprecedented draft class opportunity.
Trading the short-term goal of a low-seed playoff berth in the All-Filipino—which they are unlikely to win anyway—for the chance to extend the championship window for another 10 years is a rational, albeit agonizing, business decision. Ginebra must consider the unthinkable: sacrifice this conference to guarantee their dynasty's future.
Related Article: 2026 PBA Mock Draft: Ginebra with the #1 pick!
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