Ranking The PBA Teams: The Teams In The Middle
In
the second of this three part series, we’ll review the PBA teams and rank them
according to the strengths of their lineup.
(Missed #12-#9? Go here.)
Here
are the teams at #8 to #5.
#8 MERALCO
BOLTS
Roster
Name
|
Position
|
Bryan
Faundo
|
F/C
|
Simon
Atkins
|
G
|
Jimmy
Alapag
|
G
|
Cliff
Hodge
|
F
|
Ronjay
Buenafe
|
G
|
Chris
Newsome
|
G/F
|
Anjo
Caram
|
G
|
Rabeh
Al-Hussaini
|
C
|
Jared
Dillinger
|
G/F
|
Reynel
Hugnatan
|
F/C
|
John
Ferriols
|
F
|
Kelly
Nabong
|
F/C
|
Rey
Guevarra
|
G/F
|
Gary
David
|
G
|
Analysis:
The Meralco Bolts squeezed by the NLEX Road Warriors to nab the #8 sport
because they had a better mix of talent. From reliable veterans like Gary David
and Jimmy Alapag to their resident sparkplug Jared Dillinger and even to promising
young players like Cliff Hodge and Chris Newsome, the Bolts are well positioned
to be the darkhorse in every conference of the upcoming PBA calendar. What
could be crucial for their improvement is the play of Rabeh Al-Hussaini. If he
could be a dominant force or even just hold his own against the PBA’s top big
men, the Bolts can certainly inch their way up to the top 6 teams of the PBA.
#7
GLOBALPORT BATANG PIER
Roster
Name
|
Position
|
Paolo
Taha
|
G
|
Jonathan
Uyloan
|
G
|
Billy
Mamaril
|
F/C
|
Stanley
Pringle
|
G
|
Dorian
Pena
|
F/C
|
Anthony
Semerad
|
F
|
Terence
Romeo
|
G
|
Joseph
Yeo
|
G
|
Rico
Maierhofer
|
F
|
Doug
Kramer
|
F/C
|
Jay
Washington
|
F/C
|
Roi
Sumang
|
G
|
Philip
Paniomogan
|
G
|
Keith
Jensen
|
F
|
Analysis:
The Globalport Batang Pier team is our pick for this year’s “PBA Team on the
Rise”. The maturity of Terence Romeo was hastened by his stints in both Gilas
and the Philippines’ 3x3 team and the fearless scorer will be even deadlier in
the coming year. What really puts this team among the better teams (by the end
of the season, I expect this team to be ranked at #5 or better) in the league
is because they are a young team, with lot of room to grow. Romeo is just 23
years old, rookie Roi Sumang is 25, Pringle is 28, Anthony Semerad is 24, Paolo
Taha is 25. Unfortunately, they do need to address their ageing frontline, with
Kramer (32), Washington (34), Mamaril (35), and Pena (38), approaching the
backend of their careers.
#6 BARANGAY
GINEBRA GIN KINGS
Roster
Name
|
Position
|
Sol
Mercado
|
G
|
LA
Tenorio
|
G
|
Scottie
Thompson
|
G
|
Dave
Marcelo
|
F/C
|
JJ
Helterbrand
|
G
|
Nico
Salva
|
F
|
Lee
Villamor
|
F
|
Greg
Slaughter
|
C
|
Japeth
Aguilar
|
F/C
|
Aljon
Mariano
|
F
|
Chris
Ellis
|
G/F
|
Joe
Devance
|
F
|
Mark
Caguioa
|
G
|
Rodney
Brondial
|
F
|
Analysis:
On paper, the Gin Kings should be the most dominant team in the PBA. The
triumvirate of Slaughter, Aguilar and Tenorio should be the most feared
combination in the league…except it isn’t. The Gin Kings have one of the best
lineups in the league pound for pound, and yet, they have yet to put it all
together. Maybe this year, Slaughter finally goes beast mode in every game.
Maybe this year, the light goes on in Aguilar’s head and he becomes the PBA’s
version of Anthony Davis. Maybe this year, Helterbrand and Caguioa turn into
themselves from 5 years ago. If that happens, it might be Grand Slam time.
# 5 PUREFOOD
STAR HOTSHOTS
Roster
Name
|
Position
|
Yousef
Taha
|
F/C
|
Justin
Melton
|
G
|
Rafi
Reavis
|
F/C
|
Ronald
Pascual
|
F
|
Norbert
Torres
|
F
|
Peter
June Simon
|
G
|
Ian
Sangalang
|
F/C
|
Alex
Mallari
|
G
|
Marc
Barroca
|
G
|
Marc
Pingris
|
F
|
James
Yap
|
G/F
|
Jerwin
Gaco
|
F
|
Allein
Malicsi
|
G/F
|
Jake
Pascual
|
F
|
Analysis:
The Purefoods Star Hotshots is a team that wins because of their selflessness
and willingness to adhere to a system. But with new coach Jason Webb bringing
in a new one, expect a slight dip in their performance. It’s going to be pretty
much the same dip they experienced when they were learning Tim Cone’s triangle
offense. In Webb’s web, both James Yap and Peter June Simon will, supposedly,
go back to being deadly scorers, Pingris and Sangalang will lock down the
inside, Melton and Barroca will take care of quarterbacking the team and
Mallari will be their all-around glue guy. On paper, this plan looks pretty
good. All that’s left is to prove it on the court.
In
the next article, we will reveal our picks for teams #4-#1.
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