The PBA Commissioner’s Cup is on its yearly Holiday break. So, as 2024 makes way for 2025, we present to you Rebanse’s final Power Rankings for 2024 for December 23 thru December 30.
1. Northport Batang Pier (6-1) ◀️▶️
Northport’s league-leading offense at 110.4 a game—two clear of second-placer Rain or Shine Elasto Painters—is testament to the firepower of young guns like Arvin Tolentino, Joshua Munzon, and Will Navarro. Import Kadeem Jack is filling in the blanks for the Batang Pier, with Tolentino and Munzon doing the heavy lifting in scoring. A playoff slot is certainly within reach.
2. Hong Kong Eastern (6-2) ◀️▶️
Despite their pinpoint passing and sharp shooting, Eastern is surprisingly just middle of the pack in terms of offense at 99.3 a game (right in the middle at seventh). They make up for it, though, with solid, disciplined defense that holds opponents down to just 93.0 per game—second in the league overall and five full points clear of the third-best defensive team so far in the tournament in the Converge FiberXers.
3. Converge FiberXers (6-2) ◀️▶️
The FiberXers have turned it up several notches in their four-game winning streak (tied for longest active with Rain or Shine)—and they are doing it with superb play on both ends. Converge currently has the third most prolific offense in the league (105.3 PPG) and is the third stingiest team so far (98.0 OPPG). The talent is no doubt undeniable; now, it is starting to show out.
4. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (4-1) ◀️▶️
The Rain or Shine formula remains the same from last conference: score, score, score more. Yeng Guiao’s free-flowing, everyone can attack ethos is working wonders again, with Leonard Santillan, Andrei Caracut, and Adrian Nocum among the Elasto Painters averaging in double-digits. Import Deon Thompson has proven to be a great fit, too, giving Guiao a presence down low and a solid rebounder.
5. TNT Tropang Giga (2-2) ⏫
TNT still has a –1.7 point differential, but the offense is starting to pick up. The Tropa seem to be tightening the screws on defense as well as they held the Blackwater Bossing to 93 markers in their last game for 2024. With Jayson Castro back and good health starting to come around, this champion squad might be poised for a run come 2025.
6. Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (4-2) ⏬
With lingering injuries to Stephen Holt and Japeth Aguilar and key players like Jamie Malonzo still out, Ginebra seems lucky to be 4-2 at this point. The team’s usually prolific offense is blowing hot and cold as of late and the intensity and energy come in ebbs and flows. But Ginebra’s league-best defense—92.2 points surrendered per game—should be reason for optimism.
7. San Miguel Beermen (3-3) ⏬
Just as the Beermen seem to be turning a corner, they run into an ambush at the hands of Eastern. If it’s any consolation, June Mar Fajardo is playing like the beast that he is again under Leo Austria. Unfortunately, an inconsistent supporting cast and import woes continue to hound the defending champs of this midseason tourney.
8. Meralco Bolts (3-2) ⏬
Meralco may have survived its early-tourney import injuries, but the power outage in its offense is proving to be a bigger concern. After averaging 116 points in their first two wins, the Bolts have failed to hit 100 in their next three games—a win and back-to-back defeats. Worse, their defense have crumbled, too, surrendering 114 to Blackwater and 110 to Converge in those two Ls.
9. NLEX Road Warriors (3-4) ◀️▶️
What started off as a promising PBA Governors’ Cup for NLEX is now turning for the worse as teams have been catching on to the Mike Watkins-Robert Bolick two-man game. The Road Warriors’ sputtering offense—100, 91, and 95 points in three straight losses—only proves that point. Putting it simply, Bolick and Watkins need more help.
10. Magnolia Hotshots (2-5) ◀️▶️
Magnolia isn’t distancing itself from the “Introvoys” narrative—not when they keep starting off well only to sputter down the stretch. Laden with vets, the Hotshots surprisingly can’t seem to finish off games, with their five losses by two, four, three, two, and three. Sadly, “almost” doesn’t quite cut it in hoops.
11. Phoenix Fuel Masters (1-5) ◀️▶️
Between young guns Tyler Tio, Ken Tuffin, and Kai Balunggay and veterans Jason Perkins, RJ Jazul, and RR Garcia, there’s certainly some good talent in the Phoenix camp. So far, though, that talent isn’t translating to wins just yet.
12. Blackwater Bossing (1-5) ◀️▶️
Despite having the explosive duo of George King and Sedrick Barefield (59.0 PPG), the Bossing find it hard to score to ball, averaging just 96.5 a game so far this conference. The defense—104.7 OPPG—is just as bad for Jeffrey Cariaso’s wards.
13. Terrafirma Dyip (0-7) ◀️▶️
The Dyip have the league’s worst offense (94.6 points) and its worst defense (110.4), too. That’s not exactly a recipe for success in any league at any level.
