THE PHILIPPINE Cup, widely regarded as the most prestigious championship of the season, starts on Friday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium which will serve as the third and final conference of the PBA 49th Season (2024-25).
We preview the coming conference by grouping the 12 teams into three levels based on where SPIN.ph believe they could end up.
TIER 3: TEAMS THAT HAVE A MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB TO REACH PLAYOFFS
NLEX
The Road Warriors will be sorely missing the presence of Mike Watkins, who gave the team an inside presence with his inside points and rebounds during the Commissioner’s Cup. It will be up to Robert Bolick and Kevin Alas to lead the charge for NLEX, but reports that Bolick wants out of the Road Warriors could have a significant effect in the performance and camaraderie within the team in the Philippine Cup.
PHOENIX
Phoenix hasn’t enjoyed success in the all-Filipino conference since the Matthew Wright and Calvin Abueva days of the franchise, leaning mostly on its imports (e.g.: Johnathan Williams) to carry the Jason Perkins-led core of the team this season. Phoenix only won a total of four games this season during the two import-laced conferences and it could be the same story this conference.
BLACKWATER
The Bossing have new players in their fold by signing Prince Caperal and Troy Mallillin. Blackwater also let go of Rey Suerte in a trade with Converge, and in exchange got BJ Andrade, who could pose as an outside threat for the team. The Bossing would need more from rookie Sedrick Barefield, often injured during the Commissioner’s Cup, this conference as they now play without import George King after the import brought them to playoff contention in the Governors’ Cup.
TERRAFIRMA
We might see the final foray of Terrafirma in the PBA but there is no sign that the Dyip are going all out with a bang. They lost Vic Manuel to the MPBL leaving Terrence Romeo as the only remnant in the trade to San Miguel for Juami Tiongson and Drei Cahilig. The team that nearly went winless with its only win coming from eventual champion TNT in the final day of the Commissioner’s Cup could be on pace for another zero campaign.
TIER 2: PLAYOFF CONTENDERS (COULD CHALLENGE FOR THE TITLE IF EVERYTHING FALLS INTO PLACE)
RAIN OR SHINE
The Elasto Painters made great strides in the 2024-25 season by reaching the semifinals in the Governors’ Cup and Commissioner’s Cup this season, but the true test will come in the Philippine Cup. Without the likes of Aaron Fuller and Deon Thompson, Rain or Shine will have to deal with the league’s best bigs led by eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo with an all-Filipino line-up in order to go beyond the semifinals. But there is no doubt that Rain or Shine will be a playoff team with Adrian Nocum, Andrei Caracut, Santi Santillan, and Jhonard Clarito backstopping the team.
MERALCO
Amid the attention that TNT garnered in the past two conferences, Meralco will come in as the defending champions, with its desire to make another title run in the all-Filipino conference without question. Meralco remains a consistent playoff contender with Chris Newsome, Cliff Hodge, and Chris Banchero determined to run it back. Unfortunately, the Bolts ran into a brick wall that is Barangay Ginebra in the playoffs this season, the same squad they defeated in Game 7 to win the Philippine Cup. Ginebra and the other traditional title contenders will once again stand in the way of Meralco’s title hopes.
MAGNOLIA
The Philippine Cup is Magnolia’s playground having reached the finals of the conference in three of the last five seasons. Early exits in the playoffs of the Governors’ Cup and Commissioner’s Cup, however, left some of its fans doubting on whether Magnolia can still pull off a deeper run this conference with the same core that has been with the team for many years. Zavier Lucero’s first conference with Magnolia in the all-Filipino conference could spell the difference for the Hotshots.
CONVERGE
Justine Baltazar joining forces with Justin Arana at Converge this season has put made Converge as one of the intriguing teams in the Philippine Cup since it will be the first time that the two will play together in an all-Filipino alongside Jordan Heading and Alec Stockton. Converge continued to beef up its roster after its shocking early exit in the Commissioner’s Cup by acquiring former Gilas cadet Rey Suerte and Jhan Nermal from the unrestricted free agent list. Getting playoff experience in its quarterfinal defeat against Rain or Shine last conference could lead to better things for Converge in the Philippine Cup.
NORTHPORT
NorthPort’s impressive run was one of the feel-good stories of the Commissioner’s Cup, until its campaign ended in a 4-1 loss in the semifinals against Barangay Ginebra. Also, Arvin Tolentino bagged the Best Player of the Conference. Following that campaign, there will be more eyes on NorthPort in the Philippine Cup, with fans looking forward to seeing what the Batang Pier will do for an encore. A bigger target will also be in the backs of NorthPort. They could end up with another playoff spot this conference, but another semifinal berth could be a lot tougher now without Kadeem Jack in the fold.
TIER 1: ELITE TEAMS, TITLE CONTENDERS (A SHOCKER IF IT DOESN’T REACH THE SEMIFINALS)
BARANGAY GINEBRA
Coming off a second successive runner-up finish this season, Ginebra will definitely be hungry to end the season with a Philippine Cup championship. However, the Gins will now be without Justin Brownlee in a conference that it isn’t exactly its stronghold. It’s last Philippine Cup title was in the 2020 bubble, and prior to that, its previous championship in the all-Pinoy conference was during the 2006-07 season. Stephen Holt, known for his defense, will be playing in his first Philippine Cup with Ginebra, and with Brownlee out, his offense might be needed even more this conference as Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, and RJ Abarrientos will remain as the usual suspects in the Gin Kings' bid for a PBA crown.
TNT
A chance at winning a grand slam that only Crispa, San Miguel, Alaska, and San Mig Coffee did in the 50-year history of the league is enough motivation for TNT in the Philippine Cup, hence, making it the top title contender for the coming conference. It can also work both ways as well though as coach Chot Reyes mentioned the ‘tremendous pressure’ that goes with trying to win a historic feat in the PBA. Plus, the now-Tropang 5G have to do it without the player that carried them on his back, import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, and the injured Jayson Castro. Finals MVP Rey Nambatac, Calvin Oftana, Roger Pogoy, and Poy Erram will have their work cut out for them in order to fill up RHJ’s absence.
SAN MIGUEL
In the last Commissioner's Cup, San Miguel missed the playoffs for only the first time since the 2005 Fiesta Conference. The campaign saw a revolving door of imports with four playing in the conference, and Leo Austria returning to the sidelines as head coach to replace Jorge Gallent, who remains with the team as a consultant. The Philippine Cup could be a different story with eight-time June Mar Fajardo expected to dominate again in the all-local tournament that SMB has won five straight times. Without an import to deal with and a tradition of greatness in the upcoming conference, count on San Miguel to be back with a bang in the Philippine Cup.
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