A Basketball Standpoint: Top 5 Teams to Watch Out For in All Filipino Cup

The column from A Basketball Standpoint is written by News Bits Online's Admin Michelle Constantino. The writer of this column is in no way affiliated with any of the basketball teams in the PBA and writes this blog for the purpose of sharing ideas with one another to which you may disagree or not. 

 

 

Tomorrow starts a brand new season for the Philippine Basketball Association and after the opening ceremonies which banner the muses of the 10 participating teams, it is game time between Global Port Batang Pier (the newest PBA team owned by Mikee Romero) and crowd favorites Barangay Ginebra San Miguel. But before teams get going, here is A Basketball Standpoint listing the Top 5 teams to watch out for this conference.

1. TALK AND TEXT TROPANG TEXTERS

Love them or hate them but the defending All-Filipino Cup Champions are still to look forward to this conference. With no addition to their roster, the Talk and Text squad is still intact and chemistry-wise has proven that they can make the playoffs and the finals almost every conference. Expect 2011 MVP Jimmy Alapag to still lead the Texters to at least the Final Four at the end of the All Filipino Quarterfinals and probably HEALTH would only be a factor for them to reach the finals to defend their crown once more.

Let us not forget, they have a new coach... actually, he is not new to the PBA.... Coaching Consultant Norman Black is now the head coach of Talk and Text and the Grand Slam coach has a good team in his hands, it is up to him to continue what former Head Coach Chot Reyes has done to the team (Norman will be wearing the TNT uniform, don't worry of seeing those loud prints :) kidding!)

2. ALASKA ACES

Mac Baracael and Sonny Thoss during their fans day (September 28) photo from Alaska Aces FB account

News Bits Online places Alaska on its high-list because of their re-tooled roster which now features 2011 #1 Draft Pick Jayvee Casio, Veteran Shooting Guard Dondon Hontiveros, role players like Nic Belasco and Eddie Laure completing the lineup and their impressive performance during their tune-up games prior to the opening of this season. We should not judge the performance of Alaska Aces coach Luigi Trillo just yet as we could see that he has all the pieces to make things fit, especially with Calvin Abueva coming in after his San Sebastian stay. Time would only be a factor for them to develop their chemistry but with the way they are performing, I am hoping to see the old Alaska back and making a run on the playoffs and even the title.

Let us hope the void L.A. Tenorio left them can be filled. :)

3. RAIN OR SHINE ELASTO PAINTERS

They dared to dream last conference and it came true as they were champions last conf, but News Bits Online thinks that ROS would have a fair shot with the title during the All Filipino Cup. Adding Chris Tiu to the roster means bringing in on-court leadership while Paul Lee recuperates from his injury. They didn't move any roster on trades so chemistry is no issue with this team (Ronjay Buenafe was traded to Meralco for picks) and they can bank on Gabe Norwood and Jeff Chan to share their national team experience to be able to help the team.

The Yeng Guiao led squad has no way to go but up, getting every inch of role player performance from the team that was never expected to win but did. "They dared to dream, they won the 2012 Governors Cup and they are bound to do it once and even more".

4. PETRON BLAZE BOOSTERS

New Man on a Mission: Petron Blaze Coach Olsen Racela

Petron Blaze Boosters is already loaded with talent and they became richer - ask all the teams and they would probably point at Petron as the team to beat. With new Coach Olsen Racela in the helm, Petron's mission is to make the pieces fit, a lot of them would have to sacrifice their playing time because of the star-studded lineup but they would all get the recognition they deserve. The #1 pick June Mar Fajardo proves his advantage in the Petron lineup as the walking mismatch hoarding rebounds because of his height on tune-up games and #3 pick Alex Mallari proved why he has a slot in the current lineup that includes Marcio Lassiter (comebacking after 3 weeks), Joseph Yeo and Chris Lutz, Alex Cabagnot (team captain), Dennis Miranda and Chico Lanete playing the guard/forward position for PBB.

We make this prediction, PETRON, when HEALTHY can win its AFC crown after a long time. We do not cast a doubt on the new coach Olsen, he has all the capacity to do so... especially with power names such as Jorge Gallent, Bobby Parks, Pido Jarencio, Biboy Ravanes and coaching Consultant Rajko Toroman helping him.

5. BARANGAY GINEBRA SAN MIGUEL

What's not to miss about GINEBRA?

The most popular team has added a gem in LA Tenorio in a blockbuster trade. They have 2012 MVP Mark Caguioa, The H-Bomb Rudy Hatfield, Jayjay Helterbrand and Kerby Raymundo whose slowly learning Ginebra brand of play as seen in the last conference. We watch how LA jells with the team to turn into a Lieutenant to a Gin-eral and how he can share the spotlight with household Ginebra names. We also watch Jayjay seeing him on the hardcourt when before he said he would retire. We watch Ginebra fans start jeering by tomorrow. Even yours truly, want to watch the improvements made off-season by Ginebra, especially with the addition of their rookies, Ellis and Jensen.

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