Oh, how have we missed the PBA.
Right after Ginebra raised the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup trophy inside the Clark "bubble," we have wondered when action will resume in Asia's first pay-for-play league.
Well, we won't wonder anymore. On July 16, the PBA will be back and better than ever.
Still, that's far from the only question we had on our minds. Let's go through them one-by-one here:
1. Will the return of "The Kraken" make San Miguel the team to beat once again?
It seems surreal, but the last time we saw June Mar Fajardo playing basketball was back in the 2019-2020 Governors' Cup. His leg injury suffered during practice all but doomed the campaign of the San Miguel Beermen inside the Clark "bubble," and it was further compounded by Terrence Romeo's own season-ending injury in the elimination round.
Fajardo has been slowly but surely making his way back into form, though. Reports have said that he's back to doing 5-on-5 scrimmages, usually the last obstacle a player needs to hurdle when mending from a bad injury.
While losing "The Kraken" hurt San Miguel, there was one bright spot: Moala Tautuaa had an excellent campaign in his stead. Tautuaa is a different player compared to Fajardo - more comfortable coming from the perimeter, rolling to the rim, and using his size and agility to finish. In Clark, however, he looked like he was channeling his inner June Mar, showcasing a polished post-game that allowed the Beermen to replicate their unbeatable four-out system that led to a dynasty.
Now with Fajardo returning and Tautuaa in his prime, SMB is looking terrifying once again. Did the dynasty end, or did it just take a rest?
2. Will teams be better prepared for the PBA grind?
Let's be real for a second here. Even though we saw several terrific moments from players and teams in last year's "bubble," there were times when the games were... ragged, to say the least. With so little time to prepare, games became a test of the physical and mental will to survive amidst the grind of playing non-stop and being away from families and friends for up to three months.
Most definitely, it was not easy there. Many players have said that, given the choice between playing inside another "bubble" or in a closed-circuit setup, they will always choose the latter. That in itself should be a big boost towards the comfort level of the 12 teams competing this conference.
Another boost that teams shall have entering this season is that there was significantly more time allotted to training and practice. For several months, teams trained together in the provinces down south or up north. Though there's nothing quite like an actual game, just competing regularly and getting their bodies right for what's expected to be another grind will, without a doubt, result in much better play on the floor.
3. Which traded player will make the biggest impact for their new squad?
In the extended offseason, several teams made moves to shore up their chances and shake things up heading into the brand-new conference. Many of these weren't garden-variety moves either. Here are just some of the biggest changes:
CJ Perez is now with the Beermen. Calvin Abueva is now a Hotshot. Chris Banchero and Vic Manuel are now Fuel Masters. Christian Standhardinger is now a Gin King. Greg Slaughter is now with the Batang Pier. Don Trollano is now a Road Warrior. Mac Belo is now a Bolt. Baser Amer is now a Bossing - and in turn, yes, Blackwater is now the Bossing (it was nice knowing you, Elite).
That is a lot.
Which so much activity to sort through, we sometimes forget that there's actual basketball that has to be played by these newbies in their new squads. Even though a big-time player can be touted as a game-changer, there are times where it just doesn't work, and the team's system is at odds with the player's skillset.
So which newly acquired star stands to make the most waves? You can throw a dart at any name on the board and make a case for them. Perez will provide a much-needed dose of athleticism and youth to San Miguel. Abueva will be the answer at power forward position, a question that hung over the heads of Magnolia for a long time. And what about Standhardinger, who stands (no pun intended) to be an absolute monster in the system of coach Tim Cone.
4. Which team can make the biggest leap upward?
One of the best stories of the previous conference was the rise of the Phoenix Fuel Masters. Perennially a competitive and feisty squad that had yet to make a deep playoff run, they put it all together just when Abueva returned mid-conference. With "The Beast" back in the fold alongside star Matthew Wright and the rock-solid frontcourt of Justin Chua and Jason Perkins, the Fuel Masters went on a tear and to within one game their first-ever trip to the Finals in franchise history.
Phoenix will still be a competitive squad despite trading away Abueva, as they acquired veterans Banchero and Manuel in return. But trading away the do-it-all workhorse is still a big loss and his impact will be a challenge to replicate.
So if Phoenix takes a step back, which team will be able to rise in the ranks as a new challenger to the throne?
Two teams stand out in making marked improvements, namely the Magnolia Hotshots and NorthPort Batang Pier. Magnolia's core is intact, and was further buoyed by Abueva's arrival. The Batang Pier, on the other hand, have a new man in the middle in Greg Slaughter and a returning Robert Bolick alongside some terrific rookies led by no. 2 pick Jamie Malonzo.
Even Blackwater made moves, as they now have a new show-runner in Baser Amer. The Alaska Aces will also be in the mix because of their versatility at each position, while the NLEX Road Warriors will never be lacking in star guards. This figures to be one of the most competitive conferences in a while, won't you agree?
5. Who will be the best rookie right out of the gates?
While much hyped point guard Mikey Williams is on the Injured/Reserve list of TNT, the rest of this rookie class still projects to be an excellent one.
No. 1 pick Joshua Munzon is a 3x3 stud, who will have no problems teaming up with Roosevelt Adams for Terrafirma's mighty 1-2 punch. Calvin Oftana, picked third overall, has fit in seamlessly with the Road Warriors, as his versatility and ability to still produce even without the ball in his hands will bode well for him and his career. Everyone is also excited for how Malonzo will look like next to fellow first-rounder Troy Rike and battle-hardened Sean Anthony, giving NorthPort a frontline that will create chaos at the defensive end.
Watching rookies find their way and place in the league is always a fascinating exercise. Very few expected eventual Outstanding Rookie Aaron Black, a second-rounder in his draft class, to be such an impact player for the Meralco Bolts, but he provided a boost that the team needed in its first-ever Philippine Cup semifinals stint. For rookies, it's always about being at the right place, at the right time. Who will get that opportunity - and who will make the most of that opportunity?
6. Who will be the Best Player of the Conference?
This award is highly coveted, of course, and winning one in the Philippine Cup is all the sweeter. For almost a decade, this award has gone exclusively to Fajardo, beginning with his sophomore season. This was only interrupted by a combination of injuries forcing him to miss out on the "bubble," and Stanley Pringle delivering a consistently brilliant campaign for Barangay Ginebra.
Well, Fajardo is good to go again. Does that mean the trophy will return to San Miguel and its "Kraken?"
Right now, it's obviously too early to tell. We don't know what condition Fajardo is in, but if he's even close to his MVP-caliber self, there's a huge chance that he hoists the trophy once more.
There's no discounting someone else rising up to snatch the trophy away, however. Pringle going back-to-back is always a possibility, as is his new Ginebra teammate Standhardinger. What about Abueva, who immediately picked up where he left off and was racking up double-doubles for the Fuel Masters last year? He's a good option, but may have trouble putting up the numbers needed with all the depth the Hotshots have.
A new player may also emerge as an MVP candidate with an impressive campaign. Phoenix's Wright comes to mind. Remember, a season ago, if the Fuel Masters booked a seat to the Finals, he will have been the top contender for the award. And hey, you can never sleep on TNT's elite duo of Roger Pogoy and Jayson Castro.
7. Which team is the favorite to win the championship?
At the end of the day, it all boils down to this question: Who will persevere through the grind and emerge victorious? Can Ginebra and its galaxy of veterans and reloaded newcomers repeat? Will San Miguel regain lost glory with its generational player back in harness? Or can the Meralco Bolts exceed expectations again and book another trip to the Finals with new talent in Belo and rookie Alvin Pasaol?
Even TNT's looking mighty with the return of coach Chot Reyes, while underdogs like the Alaska Aces, NorthPort Batang Pier, Magnolia Hotshots, and NLEX Road Warriors all have their own motivations for climbing the mountain. Or, think about it, will this be the year that Terrafirma Dyip, bannered by first overall pick Munzon, finally make their presence felt?
So many questions are going to be answered after we go to sleep and get to wake up two more times. Buckle up everyone. The PBA is back.