SMB, Ginebra, TNT emerge as favorites for PBA PH Cup title

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

If the PBA Governors are to be believed, San Miguel is set dominate PBA Philippine Cup anew, although TNT and Barangay Ginebra are not far behind.

Majority of the 12 governors said the Philippine Cup title is a virtual toss up between the three teams because of their size and the presence of the league’s big men in their line ups.

“TNT, Ginebra, and San Miguel,” said San Miguel governor Robert Non during the league’s preseason press conference Thursday. “TNT has an intact lineup and has the the bigs that can match up with June Mar [Fajardo], same is true with Ginebra because Greg [Slaughter] is back in the lineup.”

San Miguel has effectively used Fajardo’s 6-foot-10 frame to rule over the Philippine Cup for three straight seasons with the giant from Cebu collecting four straight MVPs.

The governors looked at Ginebra’s frontcourt partnership of Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar as the biggest challenge to San Miguel’s dominance.

TNT, meanwhile, has the likes of Kelly Williams, Troy Rosario, and Mo Tautuaa in its frontcourt. All three stand at 6-foot-7 with the ability to stretch the floor while having the length the be effective down in the post.

“They have good players, they have extremely good coaches,” said Rain or Shine governor Mamerto Mondragon of the three teams. “

“San Miguel and Ginebra both have the bigs that dominate the league,” said Magnum Membrere, TNT’s assistant team manager.

Alaska governor Dicky Bachmann hopes Alaska can go back to its status as a Philippine Cup elite, when it challenged San Miguel in 2015 and 2016, after it experienced a downhill 2016-2017 season.

“For the top three teams, I would say San Miguel, Ginebra, and TNT,” said Bachmann. “Alaska, hopefully will be performing better this season.”