Power Rankings: Sparks Fly… again.

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This is winning time… except for Air21 and Alaska.

To emphasize this fact further, there is a bumper crop of sorts in the third to eighth spots. This list is for individual accolades but it also depends on how these teams will act in the semifinals.

In my equation for next week (a modified version of the PBFANTASY stats where minutes and turnovers also matter), WINS will matter. So this could probably mean that LA Tenorio and Sonny Thoss would slide down or get shipped off from the rankings and will give opportunity to some random character to be noticed.

Saying goodbye from the list is Kerby Raymundo and Jimmy Alapag. Raymundo’s activity in list continues to be inconsistent while Alapag has taken a backseat to a returning teammate.

Game starts now.

20 – RUDY HATFIELD / KINGS
LAST WEEK: 18
6.0PPG • 8.0RPG • 2.1APG • 1.3SPG
Week’s Best: 6 points, 9 rebounds, one assist, one steal, and two blocks (W VS ALA)
For a player who earns his minutes being a Rodmanesque performer, Hatfield is playing awesomely. But maybe he can do more than just board. Ginebra’s big men are inconsistent offensively.

19 – PAUL LEE / ELASTO PAINTERS
LAST WEEK: 19
13.7PPG • 2.7RPG • 3.3APG
Week’s Best: 4 points, one rebound, two assists, and one steal (W VS BAR)
Just like what I said in my rookie rankings, I expect Lee to sit out the rest of the eliminations to prepare himself for the semis.

18 – JAYSON CASTRO / TROPANG TEXTERS
NEW ENTRY
15.0PPG • 1.7RPG • 3.3APG • 1.0SPG
Week’s Best: 23 points, one rebound, and two assists (W VS BAR)
This is where Jayson Castro’s worth comes into play. Apart from Talk N Text’s flawless record since his return, The Blur knocked the Tropa’s last six points to give them the victory over the tough Ginebra Kings.

17 – JEFF CHAN / ELASTO PAINTERS
LAST WEEK: 16
14.4PPG • 3.5RPG • 1.8APG • 1.0SPG
Week’s Best: 19 points, two rebounds, and one assist (W VS BAR)
With Lee recuperating Chan needs to step up big to support Jamelle Cornley. While he did so against the Barako Bull Energy, imagine if the Elasto Painters can find a way to put Talk N Text to the brink of elimination?

16 – JV CASIO / TIGERS
LAST WEEK: 10
9.0PPG • 2.8RPG • 6.1APG • 0.8SPG
Week’s Best: 6 points, five rebounds, and 7 assists (L VS MER)
Déjà vu? This is like the Commissioner’s Cup all over again. If two or more players can help Gary David in the scoring department, then the Tigers can avoid the abrupt and embarrassing end of their season.

15 – RANIDEL DE OCAMPO / TROPANG TEXTERS
LAST WEEK: 14
15.0PPG • 4.6RPG • 0.6BPG
Week’s Best: 21 points, five rebounds, and one steal (W VS GIN)
Like I said since day one of the Governor’s Cup, Mr. Wonderful (who coined this name) has been the only consistent player for TNT. Now that the team is getting their stars back (with the exception of Jared Dillinger), RDO has carried over his scoring and it speak volumes on his importance.

14 – SONNY THOSS / ACES
LAST WEEK: 11
10.4PPG • 7.3RPG • 1.5APG • 1.0BPG
Week’s Best: 6 points, 14 rebounds, two assists, and two blocks (L VS TNT)
I feel like Thoss played subpar this conference to think that in last year’s Governor’s Cup campaign, he was a monster of sorts. Is this a bad swan song for The Boss in Alaska? It looks like the Aces are bent to keep him but he could also be entertaining other offers.

13 – JAMES YAP / LLAMADOS
LAST WEEK: 15
15.0PPG • 3.9RPG • 2.4APG
Week’s Best: 15 points and four rebounds (L VS PET)
It has been a weird season for King James. His leadership role is further defined this season but his scoring averages have dropped significantly. Still it’s hard not to take him out as a threat because despite everything he is still the most significant B-Meg/Purefoods player of this generation.

12 – CHRIS LUTZ / BLAZE BOOSTERS
LAST WEEK: 8
11.9PPG • 3.9RPG • 4.1APG
Week’s Best: 8 points, four rebounds, and seven assists (W VS BME)
With Marcio Lassiter away Chris Lutz will exercise his uncanny ability to command attention as his batch’s top dog in this conference. He’ll probably be the Rookie of the Year had not for the injuries that lessened his appearances.

11 – GABE NORWOOD / ELASTO PAINTERS
LAST WEEK: 13
9.6PPG • 5.3RPG • 3.4APG • 0.8SPG • 0.9BPG
Week’s Best: 16 points, three rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block (W VS BAR)
See his stat? Norwood stepped up his scoring when Paul Lee checked in to the DNP list. In this conference Mr. President has been pretty much an all-around performer for Rain or Shine but to beat TNT, he scoring capabilities must be enhanced.

10 – SOLOMON MERCADO / BOLTS
LAST WEEK: 9
13.9PPG • 3.9RPG • 3.5APG • 1.3SPG
Week’s Best: 15 points, three rebounds, six assists, and one steal (W VS POW)
Macmac Cardona is closing in on the Sol Train’s scoring averages and this “sibling” rivalry is both good and bad for the Bolts. Meralco is one win away for sealing a semis spot and their fans should go on a rampage if they witness both of these guys throw shot after shot.

9 – DANNY SEIGLE / ENERGY
RETURNING
12.8PPG • 5.8RPG • 1.5APG • 1.5SPG • 1.0BPG
Week’s Best: 18 points, 9 rebounds, and two steals (L VS TNT)
I think it’s time for Seigle to dial up his Dynamite self and explode dramatically. Leroy Hickerson is a super import but he needs to find support from the locals. Junel Baculi is giving Seigle a free reign to do things this conference and hopefully it pays him dividends.

8 – ASI TAULAVA / BOLTS
LAST WEEK: 5
12.4PPG • 10.9RPG • 0.9APG
Week’s Best: 11 points, 16 rebounds, and one assist (W VS A21)
Apart from an offensive off-night, the Lava Man is unleashing his dominance on the inside. Mario West might be a Govs Cup version of Earl Barron with the way he connects with his teammates and it was during Barron’s time that The Rock imposed ruthless aggression on his enemies.

7 – MARK CAGUIOA / KINGS
LAST WEEK: 20
18.5PPG • 3.3RPG • 1.9APG • 1.3SPG
Week’s Best: 32 points, four rebounds, three assists, and four steals (L VS TNT)
The moment he posted Gary David-like numbers against his foes (27ppg in two games), The Spark jetpacked to the better part of the rankings. I may be wrong here but this was Furious’ stats when he fought for MVP recognition last season.

6 – MARC PINGRIS / LLAMADOS
LAST WEEK: 3
7.8PPG • 11.0RPG • 3.4APG
Week’s Best: 4 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists (L VS PET)
Despite his unsatisfactory scoring averages (compared to most on top of the list) Ping is Tim Cone’s version of Dennis Rodman (the Detroit Pistons version where he has yet to discover Madonna and weirdness). His rebounds and heads up plays are enough for the Llamados to not really miss Joe Devance’s contributions… yet.

5 – LA TENORIO / ACES
LAST WEEK: 4
12.3PPG • 4.8RPG • 5.1APG • 1.8SPG
Week’s Best: 12 points, three rebounds, six assists, and three steals (L VS GIN)
It’s been a tough season for The Lieutenant. Despite his Herculean efforts, the Aces were in the bottom pack most of the season. It’s best though that Tenorio remains with the Aces because he’ll never get the minutes he has at the moment with other teams.

4 – ARWIND SANTOS / BLAZE BOOSTERS
LAST WEEK: 6
11.9PPG • 8.6RPG • 1.6APG • 1.4BPG
Week’s Best: 18 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, and two blocks (L VS ROS)
The Spiderman should have these kinds of numbers on a daily basis but he can’t – no thanks to the Blaze Boosters loaded lineup. While he continues to deliver monster stats, he has yet to produce he had during the last Governor’s Cup.

3 – WILLIE MILLER / ENERGY
LAST WEEK: 7
15.4PPG • 4.3RPG • 4.4APG
Week’s Best: 25 points, 8 rebounds, five assists, and two steals (L VS TNT)
In a losing effort against Talk N Text, The Thriller exploded for 25 points. This is synonymous when he was running the show against Alaska. He needs to impose his will now because Barako Bull needs two more games to clinch and piling the W’s against Ginebra and Meralco will be extremely tough.

2 – JAY WASHINGTON / BLAZE BOOSTERS
LAST WEEK: 2
15.0PPG • 6.4RPG • 1.9APG • 1.1SPG
Week’s Best: 22 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks (W VS BME)
I guess he is why Arwind Santos hasn’t turned monster on his opponents. The return of J-Wash is vital for Petron’s cause especially since Eddie Basden is not much of an offensive source. He was seriously instrumental in dealing B-Meg’s the start of their losing streak.

1 – GARY DAVID / TIGERS
LAST WEEK: 1
25.5PPG • 4.3RPG • 2.9APG • 1.0SPG
Week’s Best: 28 points, three rebounds, two assists, and three steals (L VS A21)
I have been hailing Gary David’s game for some time now but it’s frustrating to see the Tigers lose the semis-clinching games. The same thing happened to them last conference and lo and behold, they were defanged by the Meralco Bolts. They are facing the same predicament now and for Gary David’s case they need to advance. The win will send him to the semifinals which make a possible MVP citation seriously possible. A loss could still warrant a MVP nomination but it will raise doubts on the judges.

Before writing the extro of this piece, it is certain that Rain or Shine, B-Meg, and Talk N Text are semis bound while five teams are still in the running for the three remaining slots.

Yes… it took me four hours to make a rookie rankings and three days to finish this article.

Sigh.

Until next time…

Game over.