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    All-time best starting fives for each active PBA champion team

    Imagine a Fajardo-Fernandez-Ildefonso frontline for SMB, or a Jaworski-Caguioa backcourt for Ginebra
    Oct 11, 2020
    ILLUSTRATION: Echo Antonio

    WHO'S the best?

    That debate always crops up whenever a new set of awards is handed out, and Philippine basketball is no exception.

    Criteria varies, from championships won to individual accolades taken home. But one undeniable factor when it comes to that discussion will always be victories.

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    So in a new twist to the debate, we set out to choose who the best five players are position-wise on the six active PBA teams which have won multiple championships in hopes of trotting out the best all-time starting five for the respective franchises.

    Spin.ph's writers and editors have thoroughly discussed the selections over the quarantine period, and here are our picks.

    San Miguel


    Backcourt: Samboy Lim, Hector Calma
    Frontcourt: June Mar Fajardo, Ramon Fernandez, Danny Ildefonso

    Get San Miguel's 1989 Grand Slam team and add the dominant faces of the franchises in the 2000s and 2010s and this is what you got: a collection of bests in Philippine basketball.

    Old timers believe that four-time MVP Ramon Fernandez should unquestionably be hailed as the greatest Filipino player ever, but young guns have been captivated by the prowess of six-time MVP June Mar Fajardo over the past few years that a partnership of the two in their respective peaks and imagining them manning the paint together could only mean disaster for the opposition.

    Danny Ildefonso further imposes the Beermen's dominance down low, and it also helps that his ability to hit the perimeter shot stretches the floor for the team.

    As for the guards, Samboy Lim is one of the premier swingman to ever lace his sneakers in the PBA, and entrusting point guard extraordinaire like Hector Calma to orchestrate San Miguel's attack only completes this starting lineup all together.

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    We don't know about you, but this lineup could very well be a definition of the word stacked.

    And we expect nothing less from the league's winningest and oldest-existing franchise.

    Honorable Mentions: Allan Caidic, Olsen Racela, Alex Cabagnot, Chris Ross, Danny Seigle, Arwind Santos, Nelson Asaytono, Abet Guidaben, Freddie Abuda

    Alaska


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    Backcourt: Johnny Abarrientos, Jojo Lastimosa
    Frontcourt: Kenneth Duremdes, Bong Hawkins, Sonny Thoss

    From one Grand Slam team to another.

    As expected, pieces of the 1996 Grand Slam team are evident in the Aces' best lineup, with Johnny Abarrientos, arguably the finest point guard the PBA has ever seen, leading the way.

    Flashy swingman Jojo Lastimosa joins him in the guard positions, while the gritty Bong Hawkins takes his rightful place in the frontcourt.

    So how do you make that potent team much stronger? Add to that Kenneth Duremdes, who carried the franchise on his shoulders after the Grand Slam years, and Sonny Thoss, who has been the picture of efficiency in the paint in all of his 15 years in the league.

    Yes, this team might not be the gaudiest compared to the others, but like how the Alaska franchise has been since joining the league in 1986, this team will get things done.

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    Honorable Mentions: Jeffrey Cariaso, Willie Miller, LA Tenorio, JVee Casio, Bong Alvarez, Rodney Santos, Tony dela Cruz, Poch Juinio, Ali Peek, Don Allado

    Ginebra


    Backcourt: Robert Jaworski, Mark Caguioa
    Frontcourt: Eric Menk, Japeth Aguilar, Dondon Ampalayo

    The never-say-die attitude truly runs deep in the blood of these five.

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    Robert Jaworski, the charismatic leader who coined the battlecry, of course leads the pack, while joining him in the backcourt is Mark Caguioa, arguably the man he passed the Ginebra leadership baton to.

    Aside from the undisputed faces of the franchise, they are joined up front by a dynamic cast of bigs.

    Eric Menk carried the mantle side-by-side with Caguioa in the 2000s, while the undersized Dondon Ampalayo personified the grit that made the Gin Kings the team of the masses in the 1990s.

    And as for Japeth Aguilar, well he's the one carrying the team to the new age, with his unmatched athleticism allowing him to be one of the best two-way players in the league today.

    Surely, here's a five the crowd will be proud to cheer "Gi-Ne-Bra!" for.

    Honorable Mentions: Jayjay Helterbrand, LA Tenorio, Francis Arnaiz, Vince Hizon, Bal David, Pido Jarencio, Noli Locsin, Terry Saldana, Ronald Tubid, Caloy Loyzaga, Marlou Aquino, Jun Limpot

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    Purefoods


    Backcourt: James Yap, Dindo Pumaren
    Frontcourt: Alvin Patrimonio, Jerry Codinera, Marc Pingris

    Here's a treat for the Purefoods fans: having the faces of their franchise battling side-by-side in a fantasy first five.

    Four-time MVP Alvin Patrimonio and two-time MVP James Yap carried the torch for the franchise in their heyday, and it would surely be a treat to see them play the two-man game.

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    And their partners also made the cut, with Patrimonio's frontcourt partner Jerry Codinera imposing his will down low, while Yap feeds off of the energy Pingris provides.

    Dindo Pumaren, who won four crowns with the franchise, looks tailor-fit to run the plays as Purefoods aims to show that it can hold a candle against its peers.

    Honorable Mentions: Peter June Simon, Mark Barroca, Roger Yap, Noy Castillo, Bong Ravena, Paul Artadi, Rey Evangelista, Kerby Raymundo, Joe Devance, Rafi Reavis

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    TNT


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    Backcourt: Jimmy Alapag, Jayson Castro
    Frontcourt: Asi Taulava, Ranidel De Ocampo, Larry Fonacier

    No surprises here as the core of the team which cemented TNT's dynasty in the early 2010s are ever-present in this starting lineup.

    Jimmy Alapag is without question the rightful point guard for the KaTropa in this exercise, and who better to pair up with him than Jayson Castro, with the two responsible for steering the team to four championships.

    Larry Fonacier will provide the much-needed scoring jolt at the three, while the versatility of Ranidel de Ocampo completes the attack for TNT.

    The thing about this lineup is that it always lacked the imposing presence in the middle, and that is where Asi Taulava comes in as his dominating presence down low only makes this TNT team a deadly one.

    Honorable Mentions: Mac Cardona, Willie Miller, Ryan Reyes, Kelly Williams, Harvey Carey, Bong Ravena, Jared Dillinger, Ali Peek

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    Rain or Shine


    Backcourt: Paul Lee, Jeff Chan
    Frontcourt: Gabe Norwood, Beau Belga, JR Quiñahan

    Of all the lineups in this fantasy exercise, this one really came to reality.

    Rain or Shine's five-man lineup was the team which brought glory to the 14-year-old franchise and were key in helping the Elasto Painters win their two championships.

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    The slashing ability of Paul Lee played in perfect harmony to the knockdown shooting of Jeff Chan.

    Gabe Norwood's versatility on both ends allowed this five to be as unpredictable as ever, while the hefty duo of Beau Belga and JR Quiñahan always kept the defense guessing as they had the ability to bang down low or shoot those rainbow shots.

    There were a lot of able candidates, but this five truly hoisted the Rain or Shine flag back when they were together.

    Honorable Mentions: Sol Mercado, Ryan Arana, Chris Tiu, TY Tang, Jervy Cruz, James Yap, Raymond Almazan

    Do you agree with our picks? Chime in the comments of your best five for each team.

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      ILLUSTRATION: Echo Antonio
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