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As we reach the middle of the 2020 Philippine Cup, we asked five of our PBA experts, two of whom (Carlo Pamintuan and Noel Zarate) are on the bubble, for their ideas on which teams have performed. well, who are your first prizes. The winners are, and how Calvin Abueva, whose suspension was recently lifted, impacts Phoenix’s title hopes.
1. Two teams that have surprised you the most for opposite reasons (outstanding and poor performance)
Charlie Cradle: I’m not surprised about the two teams, as most are where I thought they would be right now. It’s just Magnolia, whose play, particularly in endgame situations, has surprised me. Many of the Hotshots are championship-proven players, yet their ineptitude in closing games has been shocking. After their incredible win against NLEX, it has been quite a downhill for them and the last loss against Phoenix can be difficult to recover. These guys can still do it together, considering their pedigree, but they better get it done soon.
Paolo del Rosario: I think Blackwater Elite has exceeded my expectations. Coach Nash Racela has Blackwater competing at a higher level and they should only get better with more time together on and off the court. Hopefully we can see Elite become a playoff contender in the future.
Carlo Pamintuan: I thought Geneva would have problems in the first part of the conference, not because they are a bad team, but because LA Tenorio and Japeth Aguilar, two of their best players, were late to the PBA bubble and had many receptions. up to do. However, Guinevere has looked almost perfect so far and they are only getting better with the two of them also regaining their old form, so this start could already be considered an overkill achievement.
I also think everyone expected NorthPort Batang Pier to play a lot better than this. Although it is not too late, they soon found themselves in a deep hole. However, in terms of the biggest surprise, I think it would have to do with Magnolia’s struggles. They were finalists in the last two editions of the Philippine Cup and were one basket away from dethroning SMB last year, so everyone thought it would finally be their time to shine. They can still recover, but this beginning is very different from them.
Jutt sulit: I was positively surprised by the Phoenix Super LPG. As long as someone like Calvin Abueva is on your squad but can’t play, he’s supposed to make your team suffer. It’s supposed to hurt. But somehow, Phoenix was able to weather the storm. Sure, they were on the wrong side of back-to-back blowouts. But that was against TNT and Geneva, the two undefeated teams in the bubble. On the contrary, I really thought NorthPort would burst the bubble. Instead, they fought. They seemed out of sync on defense and, on offense, they relied heavily on Sean Anthony and Christian Standhardinger. With Anthony down with an injury and Standhardinger having ups and downs, the Batang pier will need to tap into other resources.
Noel zarate: Excellent achievements: Phoenix. Low yield: Magnolia.
Despite not having all of his players here in the bubble available, coach Topex Robinson has found a button to push so that everyone is motivated to perform and not necessarily to win. However, the cohesion they have shown thus far makes them a dark Final Four horse and Matthew Wright could be headed for a possible postseason fight.
Magnolia has played his style of basketball, but somehow it only translated into a single win (in fact, coming from behind) against NLEX. His quintet of three guards struggles against large teams and still seems to be looking for form in this environment. If they manage to face Geneva their first defeat in the “Classic Bubble”, then that could be the catalyst to turn things around while there is still time.
2. Your first candidates for Most Improved Player, Rookie of the Year, and Most Valuable Player
Charlie: For Most Improved, it has to be Prince Caperal right now, right? The Conference Rookie’s career has been very close so far; none of them have really stood out in every game thus far, but Barkley Eboña may have been ahead at this point. The MVP so far has been RR Pogoy.
Paolo: The first results suggest that Barkley Eboña is one of ROY’s favorites. The great man from Alaska has shown later moves that didn’t seem to exist at the college level and has had showy performances. The most improved player could see Prince Caperal and Jason Perkins as the first candidates. Caperal has flourished in the absence of Greg Slaughter, giving Geneva enviable space between the floor with his outside shot, while Perkins has become a double-double machine and is a key part of Phoenix’s playoff challenge.
For MVP, I think RR Pogoy is a potential winner given his incredible scoring outbursts. But I wouldn’t rank him as a clear favorite just yet.
Carlo: MIP – Prince Caperal, MVP – RR Pogoy, ROY – Aaron Black
Jutt: The most improved player for me so far is Prince Caperal. Greg Slaughter’s departure from the Geneva lineup left a huge void and Prince proved ready when his number was called. For rookie of the year, I’ll go with Aaron Black. There are other strong candidates like Adrian Wong, Arvin Tolentino and Mike Ayonayon, but Black has been playing like a veteran. In Meralco’s overtime win over Magnolia, the rookie made big shots down the stretch and was unafraid of the big moments. As for my Bubble MVP, at this point it has to be RR Pogoy. The man has been unstoppable. Not even a sprained ankle has been able to stop it.
Christmas: MIP: Caperal Prince, ROY: Adrian Wong, MVP: Roger Pogoy.
Coach Tim Cone has given Greg Slaughter playing time to Prince “The Vince” Caperal, who has been lighting him up from deep down, giving Japeth Aguilar plenty of time to find his legs and air. In addition, Geneva is 4-0 with Caperal as the starting center.
Wong may not have had the impact of Barkley Ebonia, but he fits the Rain or Shine system so much that some already compare him to an ex-ROY named Paul Lee. Sure, he still has a long way to go to even be mentioned at the same time as his predecessor, but he has earned a spot in Caloy Garcia’s rotation and his minutes are slowly increasing. He could be a vital cog in the Elasto Painters’ drive for a deep run in the playoffs.
Pogoy has thrived in this environment. He has epitomized treating this experience as a business trip and has been the most trapped player yet. Averaging close to 30 points per game and an ankle injury that would have sidelined the minors, Pogoy is proving to be Bong Ravena’s biggest cannon here.
3. On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest, how much will Calvin Abeuva’s return affect Phoenix’s title chances?
Charlie: It could increase the slim chances a bit, but it’s been away from the game for quite some time; It may take a little time to meditate and bring your level of play to a point where you can really impact things the way that you do. has in the past. Maybe a 2.
Paolo: Calvin’s return is a very positive 4 for Phoenix. Super LPGs are suddenly much deeper with Calvin’s return and will benefit from The Beast’s unmatched energy on the court. A fresh and eager Calvin Abueva could make the difference between an early exit from the playoffs and a potential title challenge down the road.
Carlo: Calvin changes the rules of the game and gives the team an additional weapon in its already effective system. So in terms of your chances, your effect would be a 5.
Jutt: Easily a 5. If we are only talking about the impact he is going to have, Abueva always has an immeasurable impact every time he steps on the pitch. The question now is, will it have a positive or negative impact? Abueva is an energy grenade that Coach Topex Robinson can throw to the ground. It can get you 20 points and 10 rebounds every night. However, these always came up with their antics that didn’t always help his team. It would be interesting to see if “La Bestia” will undergo a rebrand after all the seminars, workshops, community service, and other requirements it went through during its suspension.
Christmas: 5. The guy who’s been playing games is finally allowed to play and that is going to boost his morale immensely. Plus, Calvin Abueva is perhaps his best all-around player, so this gives Phoenix an incredible boost at the most opportune moment.
4. Has anything changed in your answers from the pre-bubble 5 to 5?
Charlie: I didn’t include Pogoy as one of my possible MVPs. I mentioned Jayson Castro and Stanley Pringle. I guess RR is on my list now too.
Paolo: I initially identified Christian Standhardinger as an MVP candidate, but the bad NorthPort conference has clouded it.
Carlo: It’s beyond anyone’s control, but the road to defending their Philippine Cup trophy has become much more difficult for the San Miguel Brewers after losing Terrence Romeo. But I think we should still refuse to underestimate the heart of a champion.
Jutt: TNT still looks like the strongest team out there, but with NorthPort struggles, Christian Standhardinger might not even make it to the Conference Best Player discussion. I’m going to have to change my prediction from BPC to RR Pogoy.
Christmas: My choice for MVP. While Christian Standhardinger remains an elite midfielder, he somehow hasn’t found his groove, especially from the free throw line. With NorthPort struggling, Standhardinger will make a Herculean effort to turn things around for the franchise. But if he can be a major factor in getting a NorthPort team to the playoffs, he will definitely be on the MVP conversation.
5. Your only bold prediction about the rest of the bubble.
Charlie: This is hard. I will say that the Mythical 5 bubble will have someone new, a newbie.
Paolo: I think a Geneva-Tropang Giga showdown in the final is a good prediction, so instead I’ll go with Phoenix and Rain or Shine reaching the semi-finals and being potential spoilers for the group giants SMC and MVP.
Carlo: We’ll see one or even two of the lowest-seeded teams shock the top four. This setup is ready for surprises.
Jutt: The PBA bubble faces challenges and will continue to encounter more of them as it progresses. It was inspired by the NBA model, but I hope we all understand that there are no resources to replicate that exact formula for the PBA. The league is doing everything it can to provide a livelihood for the people who depend on it. He strives to bring some normalcy in the best way he knows how – through sports entertainment. I can’t really predict which team will win or who will win awards, but I know this will end up being one of the PBA’s championships, if not the most hard-won.
Christmas: TNT will go 11-0.
