Why Your Favorite Team will Win the Championship
Almost all the team have one goal in mind for this conference and that is to be the last team standing. With the improving balance in the league, the road to the championship is not getting easier.
The playoffs has always been a bloodbath in the last several conferences. Only the elite remains. You may say that only a few teams have realistic chances of surviving the playoffs onslaught but right now, you cannot count out any team.
For each squad, this could be the biggest reason why they will be the last team standing.
Mahindra and Blackwater - Their Imports Can Carry Them to the Promise Land
For these two expansion squads, import is the name of the game! They don't stand any chance if MJ Rhett and Augustus Gilchrist aren't good enough to bring a team to the promise land. Of course, the local players are still important but those two should be capable of taking over a game and push his team to victory when the need comes.
Phoenix - The Shooters are consistent in shooting the lights out
The Fuel Master get the right import in Kenny Adeleke. Kenny will probably do his job of grabbing rebounds, hustling and providing great defense. So, it will be up to the shooters of Phoenix to complete the championship equation. So, RR Garcia, JC Intal, Joshua Urbiztondo, Mic Pennisi and all the others should better clean their snipers.
Meralco - Batman (Onuaku) Find his Robin
In short, a local player will need to rise and be a consistent sidekick or even takeover the batman role. I think the three best candidate are Cliff Hodge, Gary David and Chris Newsome. To be the Robin, Hodge shoud do at least 15.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks. Gary David can also be the guy if he produce at least 18.0 points in 35% three-point shooting. Lastly, Newsome can be that guy if he can provide at least 13.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 45% field-goal shooting.
NLEX - Asi Taulava Maintain his production
Their import, Al Thornton, is capable enough to carry the majority of the scoring load but Asi needs to remain The Rock for the Road Warriors. They decided to bring back the small forward Thornton because they believe Asi can remain a great foundation inside. He will be task to defend the big imports of the other teams so this will not be as easy as the Philippine Cup for The Rock.
Purefoods - Coach Webb find the right mix
Coach Jason is not the worst coach in the league. He has a great vision for the team but what he needs to accomplish for his team to be successful is to find the right rotation for his scheme. He has a very deep team so he needs to find out the right starters to surround Bowles. Then the two guys that should be the first ones to come off the bench. Lastly, all the role players should have a clear role. If those things are done right, I can see the Star Hotshots getting the crown.
Globalport - Improve Their Outside Shooting Efficiency
Globalport is basically the lite PBA version of the Golden State Warriors but if they want to push that comparison, knocking long bombs more efficiently is a must. Three-point shooting is the driving force of their scheme. Their big two, Terrence Romeo and Stanley Pringle love to jack-up threes so they should take the lead. A more efficient outside shooting means more breathing for Brian Williams to operate inside.
Alaska - Use their Philippine Cup Demise as a Motivation
I am one of those who believe that there is a great chance that their defeat in the Philippine Cup finals will totally break this team. But, I also recognize the fact that it could happen the other way around. Yes, if they can talk about it the right way, they could have the greatest motivation of getting championship among all the teams.
Ginebra - Joe Devance or Chris Ellis Find Their Groove
The small forward should not have been the weakest position of the Kings in the Philippine Cup, unfortunately Devance and Ellis played awful. Coach Cone is giving them another chance this conference even though they will not battler for a starting spot now because of their import but a back-up role. Devance and Ellis are versatile and flexible players which makes them important specially in a playoffs series. Devance can play the 3 and the 4 if they want to play fast. While, Ellis can go to the 2 to take advantage of his mismatch against any other SG.
Talk 'n Text - Keeping RDO, Tautuaa and Rosario happy
I have been telling this for a while, the frontline of Talk 'n Text is so deep that at least one of them will be given a little playing time each game. Actually, Kelly Williams is also part of the equation! Just take a look on the minutes distribution in their first game; RDO - 28, Tautuaa - 23, Williams - 20 and Carey - 24. Rosario will be out for a while but the coaching staff or the management should better find a solution now or else, a huge problem could blow up to their faces when Rosario comes back.
Rain or Shine - Paul Lee remains healthy
Yeah, I know that some if not a lot of Rain or Shine fans have forgotten about the greatness of the Leethal Weapon. Elasto Painters played really well in the Philippine Cup without him but his importance to the team was very obvious in game 6 of the semifinals against San Miguel where he was sideline once again. They needed someone to will them to victory on that game and nobody did. That is the main job of Lee. Yes, they now have an import to do that but mind you, all the other teams have one too.
San Miguel Beermen - Fajardo remains healthy
This is a import-laden conference but I am still confident to say that Fajardo is still one of the top 10 players of this conference. And Beermen will still play around him. Tyler Wilkerson could be a great import but without Fajardo, I cannot see them winning the championship.
The playoffs has always been a bloodbath in the last several conferences. Only the elite remains. You may say that only a few teams have realistic chances of surviving the playoffs onslaught but right now, you cannot count out any team.
For each squad, this could be the biggest reason why they will be the last team standing.
Mahindra and Blackwater - Their Imports Can Carry Them to the Promise Land
For these two expansion squads, import is the name of the game! They don't stand any chance if MJ Rhett and Augustus Gilchrist aren't good enough to bring a team to the promise land. Of course, the local players are still important but those two should be capable of taking over a game and push his team to victory when the need comes.
Phoenix - The Shooters are consistent in shooting the lights out
The Fuel Master get the right import in Kenny Adeleke. Kenny will probably do his job of grabbing rebounds, hustling and providing great defense. So, it will be up to the shooters of Phoenix to complete the championship equation. So, RR Garcia, JC Intal, Joshua Urbiztondo, Mic Pennisi and all the others should better clean their snipers.
Meralco - Batman (Onuaku) Find his Robin
In short, a local player will need to rise and be a consistent sidekick or even takeover the batman role. I think the three best candidate are Cliff Hodge, Gary David and Chris Newsome. To be the Robin, Hodge shoud do at least 15.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks. Gary David can also be the guy if he produce at least 18.0 points in 35% three-point shooting. Lastly, Newsome can be that guy if he can provide at least 13.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 45% field-goal shooting.
NLEX - Asi Taulava Maintain his production
Their import, Al Thornton, is capable enough to carry the majority of the scoring load but Asi needs to remain The Rock for the Road Warriors. They decided to bring back the small forward Thornton because they believe Asi can remain a great foundation inside. He will be task to defend the big imports of the other teams so this will not be as easy as the Philippine Cup for The Rock.
Purefoods - Coach Webb find the right mix
Coach Jason is not the worst coach in the league. He has a great vision for the team but what he needs to accomplish for his team to be successful is to find the right rotation for his scheme. He has a very deep team so he needs to find out the right starters to surround Bowles. Then the two guys that should be the first ones to come off the bench. Lastly, all the role players should have a clear role. If those things are done right, I can see the Star Hotshots getting the crown.
Globalport - Improve Their Outside Shooting Efficiency
Globalport is basically the lite PBA version of the Golden State Warriors but if they want to push that comparison, knocking long bombs more efficiently is a must. Three-point shooting is the driving force of their scheme. Their big two, Terrence Romeo and Stanley Pringle love to jack-up threes so they should take the lead. A more efficient outside shooting means more breathing for Brian Williams to operate inside.
Alaska - Use their Philippine Cup Demise as a Motivation
I am one of those who believe that there is a great chance that their defeat in the Philippine Cup finals will totally break this team. But, I also recognize the fact that it could happen the other way around. Yes, if they can talk about it the right way, they could have the greatest motivation of getting championship among all the teams.
Ginebra - Joe Devance or Chris Ellis Find Their Groove
The small forward should not have been the weakest position of the Kings in the Philippine Cup, unfortunately Devance and Ellis played awful. Coach Cone is giving them another chance this conference even though they will not battler for a starting spot now because of their import but a back-up role. Devance and Ellis are versatile and flexible players which makes them important specially in a playoffs series. Devance can play the 3 and the 4 if they want to play fast. While, Ellis can go to the 2 to take advantage of his mismatch against any other SG.
Talk 'n Text - Keeping RDO, Tautuaa and Rosario happy
I have been telling this for a while, the frontline of Talk 'n Text is so deep that at least one of them will be given a little playing time each game. Actually, Kelly Williams is also part of the equation! Just take a look on the minutes distribution in their first game; RDO - 28, Tautuaa - 23, Williams - 20 and Carey - 24. Rosario will be out for a while but the coaching staff or the management should better find a solution now or else, a huge problem could blow up to their faces when Rosario comes back.
Rain or Shine - Paul Lee remains healthy
Yeah, I know that some if not a lot of Rain or Shine fans have forgotten about the greatness of the Leethal Weapon. Elasto Painters played really well in the Philippine Cup without him but his importance to the team was very obvious in game 6 of the semifinals against San Miguel where he was sideline once again. They needed someone to will them to victory on that game and nobody did. That is the main job of Lee. Yes, they now have an import to do that but mind you, all the other teams have one too.
San Miguel Beermen - Fajardo remains healthy
This is a import-laden conference but I am still confident to say that Fajardo is still one of the top 10 players of this conference. And Beermen will still play around him. Tyler Wilkerson could be a great import but without Fajardo, I cannot see them winning the championship.
