The PBA’s three-week break is almost over, and action is set to resume on Friday, Dec. 5, at Ynares Center in Antipolo. And the league’s reopening promises to be a slam-bang affair, with the Converge FiberXers taking on the Magnolia Hotshots and the San Miguel Beermen facing off with the TNT Tropang 5G. But before all that, the PBA’s return also means we’ll be resuming our Weekly PBA Rankings. As always, we’ll start by taking a look at the updated standings:
Now, here are Rebanse’s Weekly PBA Power Rankings:
San Miguel Beermen
Five straight wins have the Beermen at joint second with four other teams, but none have the great equalizer in June Mar Fajardo. All roads to the ’chip still go through the defending champs.
NLEX Road Warriors
Robert Bolick is officially back, and that only bodes well for NLEX, who has mostly relied on defense and patchwork offense. JB Bahio is also emerging as a legit two-way force.
Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
Comeback win over TNT should be a confidence booster for the Elasto Painters, who appear to be hitting their stride. Caelan Tiongson and Stanley Pringle returning should elevate Rain or Shine more.
TNT Tropang 5G
Put their guard down against Rain or Shine and paid the price. But the talent, chemistry, and defensive tenacity are all undeniable and arguably among the league’s best.
Converge FiberXers
Early season losses to heavyweights TNT and SMB cast doubt on Converge’s legitimacy. Win over Ginebra proves they could be the real deal after all.
Magnolia Hotshots
Slow starts and inconsistent defense have been a problem, but the talent is there—albeit front-loaded. The youth brigade, though, looks to be figuring things out.
Meralco Bolts
Offense remains a work in progress for the up-and-down Bolts. But the defense has continued to be stingy. The three-week break could supercharge Meralco.
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel
Ginebra is officially in uncharted waters, in a tie with Meralco at 3-4 and just barely locking down the eighth seed. The offense is still up and down, and the defense continues to be inconsistent.
Phoenix Fuel Masters
Phoenix just can’t close out games yet, partly because of their relative youth—head coach included. But credit the Fuel Masters for always showing fight.
Titan Ultra Giant Risers
Calvin Abueva has done everything humanly possible to get Titan Ultra into the win column. He’s not getting a lot of consistent help, though.
Terrafirma Dyip
The Dyip are tough, gritty, and spirited. They’re also playing hard under coach Ronald Tubid. But lack of top-tier talent is hurting the team.
Blackwater Bossing
The Bossing have top-tier talent in Sedrick Barefield, Christian David, and Dalph Panopio. However, it’s starting to look like they need better coaching.
