Today, let's explore what the roster would look like if we could pick from the players from the PBA teams not affiliated to either PLDT or SMC. So the teams in play would be the Alaska Aces, Blackwater Elite, Columbian Dyip, Globalport Batang Pier, Phoenix Fuel Masters and Rain Or Shine Elasto Painters.
Starters: JP Erram, Raymond Almazan, Gabe Norwood, Mac Belo, JVee Casio
It's depressing that this is the best starting five we can go with. Almazan and Erram are young bigs with lots of potential but aren't skilled or experienced enough yet to be the main guys against international bigs. Gabe Norwood will always be solid but he's a glue-guy, the man who fills in the gaps as opposed to being the main man. Mac Belo is still recovering from injuries and JVee Casio just isn't on the same level as Castro, Romeo, or Ravena.
Bench: Sonny Thoss, Vic Manuel, Sean Anthony, Moala Tautuaa, JC Intal, Beau Belga, Ed Daquioag
This bench is actually not so bad. Solid big men who can score and rebound (Thoss, Anthony, Tautuaa, Belga) plus scorers on the wings (Manuel, Intal, Daquioag). It also has the flexibility to go big (well, a bit bigger) if you put Anthony or Tautuaa at the small forward position or go small with a stretch forward like Belga.
Still, this is nowhere near what we need to do well in the FIBA qualifiers. And it's a bit depressing to realize how much talent is concetrated in the SMC and PLDT teams compared to the rest of the league.
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