Ranking The PBA Teams: The Teams In The Middle

In 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 ranked  #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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