The 2024-25 PBA Commissioner's Cup has been as competitive as it can get, with underdogs and traditional powerhouses trading blows in a battle for supremacy. Parity has become the defining narrative, as streaking independent teams and lower-seeded contenders are proving their mettle against the league's elite.
This balance of power is reshaping the league's dynamics, creating a wide-open race that highlights the depth of talent across teams. With every win and loss carrying significant weight, here's a closer look at how each squad is faring as they navigate this highly competitive conference.
1. NorthPort Batang Pier (7-1)
Despite playing only one game this week, NorthPort made a bold statement, edging Barangay Ginebra in a thrilling 119-116 showdown to cement their status as top contenders in the conference. The victory improved their record to an impressive 7-1, tightening their grip on the league's top spot.
The win was powered by NorthPort's formidable trio of import Kadeem Jack, Arvin Tolentino, and Joshua Munzon, who combined for 88 points. Jack was a force to be reckoned with, excelling in mid range pull-ups, downhill drives, and pick-and-rolls, shooting a remarkable 68.2% from the field. Tolentino showcased his sharpshooting prowess, hitting six of nine attempts from beyond the arc, while Munzon delivered a well-rounded performance with 27 points and six assists on an efficient 70.6 TS%.
Up next, NorthPort faces a tough stretch with a matchup against a gritty Meralco squad, followed by a showdown versus a top team eager to bounce back in Rain or Shine.
2. TNT Tropang Giga (4-2)
After a slow start to the conference, TNT has shaken off their championship hangover and emerged as the hottest team in the league with four straight wins. This week, they showcased their dominance by taking down two of the conference's top teams, Meralco and Converge, in playoff-like matchups
Calvin Oftana has been on fire this conference, highlighted by his performance against Meralco, where he scored 17 of his 24 points in the first half. TNT controlled the game from the start, and Oftana's efficient 71.6 TS% was a key factor. However, as Oftana struggled in their next game against Converge, import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and RR Pogoy stepped up with their best scoring outputs of the conference. Hollis-Jefferson tallied 31 points on 55.4 TS%, along with 11 rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Meanwhile, Pogoy caught fire from beyond the arc, contributing 22 points, including five triples.
Most importantly, TNT's trademark defense from the previous conference reemerged in these games. They effectively clamped down on Converge's Jordan Heading and Alec Stockton and stifled Meralco's second-half comeback attempt.
3. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (5-2)
Rain or Shine's five-game winning streak came to an end with a tough loss to the surging Phoenix team. In this game, the Elasto Painters struggled to find their offensive rhythm, managing just 91 points -- well below their impressive 110.8 points per game average during their winning streak
Despite the setback, Rain or Shine has reasons to remain optimistic, thanks to the stellar performances of Leonard Santillan and Adrian Nocum. Santillan, the versatile stretch big, had an excellent week, averaging 19.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists while shooting an impressive 53.3% from beyond the arc on 15 attempts. Meanwhile, the electrifying Nocum continued to shine, putting up weekly averages of 19 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals on an efficient 66.6 TS%.
Rain or Shine faces a tough challenge in the upcoming week as they prepare to take on top teams Converge and NorthPort.
4. Meralco Bolts (5-3)
It was a hectic week for Meralco, but for the first time in this conference, they finally had the chance to field an almost full lineup. This led to a solid 2-1 record, with important wins over Eastern and NLEX, and a hard-fought, down-to-the-wire loss against TNT.
While star guard Chris Newsome had a modest stretch (12.7 points on 51.9 TS%), Meralco benefitted from other players stepping up offensively. A now-healthy Akil Mitchell delivered an impressive all-around stat line across three games, averaging 26.3 points, 14.7 rebounds, and six assists. Meanwhile, Bong Quinto continued to shine in what is shaping up to be the best scoring conference of his career, contributing 14.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists on an efficient 61.2 TS%.
5. Barangay Ginebra (6-3)
Health concerns continued to plague Ginebra this week, as Justin Brownlee and Scottie Thompson both battled illnesses. Despite these challenges, the two stars delivered resilient performances, guiding Ginebra to a 2-1 record. They notched wins against San Miguel and Blackwater while narrowly falling short in a close game against conference leader NorthPort.
Against San Miguel, Brownlee was visibly affected by flu-like symptoms, but Ginebra's defense on June Mar Fajardo proved crucial. The team limited San Miguel's scoring in the paint, and Troy Rosario stepped up with 22 points to secure the victory. Rosario also had a stellar 88.2% shooting from two-point range in three games for this week.
Thompson took center stage in the next game, even while under the weather. He contributed 17 points on an efficient 77.8% shooting, though Ginebra fell short in a hard-fought battle against NorthPort. However, the week ended on a high note as Ginebra rebounded with a commanding win over a struggling Blackwater team, which featured the return of Jamie Malonzo to the lineup after nine months of being sidelined.
6. Converge FiberXers (6-3)
If moral victories count, Converge got a valuable lesson in playing against an elite team determined to neutralize their strengths. That's exactly what TNT delivered in their narrow 98-96 loss, forcing Converge to explore different ways to generate offense.
This was evident in how TNT defended the two-man game of Jordan Heading and Cheick Diallo. They used various strategies, including blitzes and hard hedges, complemented by excellent weak-side help defense to disrupt Diallo's rolls to the basket. Despite this, Converge had plenty to take away from the game. Diallo dominated in the paint, finishing with 37 points and 16 rebounds on an efficient 66.7% shooting, spearheading a massive 58-22 advantage in points in the paint.
The game also marked the best performance of first overall pick Justine Baltazar, who impressed with 17 points, six rebounds, and two assists on an efficient 70.8 TS%.
7. Eastern (6-3)
Juggling multiple leagues at the same time finally took its toll on Eastern, as fatigue caught up with them in their lone game of the year so far. Known for their offensive efficiency, the team struggled mightily against Meralco, shooting just 36.6% from the field and a dismal 23.8% from beyond the arc.
Glen Yang, Eastern's top guard, had an uncharacteristically poor outing, finishing with just two points and failing to make a single field goal while posting a team-worst minus-15. Although Hayden Blankley and Kobey Lam managed to score in double figures, combining for 28 points, their efforts came at a price, with both shooting just 30.3% from the field.
One bright spot for Eastern was Steven Guinchard, who delivered an efficient 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting. His sharp shooting from the perimeter will be crucial as Eastern looks to bounce back in their upcoming games.
8. Phoenix Fuel Masters (3-5)
Phoenix appears to be on the rise, securing back-to-back wins this week, including a streak-snapping victory over Rain or Shine. These crucial wins have brought them within a game of the eighth seed, keeping their playoff hopes alive.
Leading the charge is Donovan Smith, who continues to cement his reputation as one of the conference's top-scoring imports. In their two victories, he averaged an impressive 29.5 points and 8.5 rebounds on an efficient 62.3 TS%. The recent win against Rain or Shine highlighted the importance of their guard play, with young talent Tyler Tio contributing 16 points and four assists on 54.2 TS%.
Veteran leadership also played a pivotal role in this breakthrough win. RR Garcia and RJ Jazul stepped up, scoring 14 and 11 points, respectively, providing the steady presence Phoenix needed in a tightly contested matchup.
9. San Miguel Beermen (4-4)
San Miguel's journey in this conference has been anything but smooth, but their hard-fought win over Magnolia might provide the spark they need as the eliminations approach the final stretch. The team showed resilience, overcoming a late fourth-quarter deficit to secure the victory.
CJ Perez was the standout performer in this crucial game. In desperate need of a breakout performance, the Gilas Pilipinas star stepped up with 23 points, 10 assists, and four steals, including a game-sealing triple that clinched the win. However, lingering concerns remain for San Miguel, particularly with Fajardo. Across this week, including their loss to Ginebra, Fajardo has struggled offensively, averaging just 12.5 points on 42.1% shooting from the field.
Another area of concern is the inconsistent scoring of import Jabari Narcis. While he managed only 17.5 points on a subpar 41.4 TS% this week, he excelled on the boards, averaging an impressive 16.5 rebounds over two games. San Miguel will need Narcis to find more consistency in his offensive output to maintain momentum moving forward.
10. Magnolia Hotshots (3-6)
Magnolia's struggles continue, as another heartbreaking 85-78 loss to San Miguel has further dampened their hopes of gaining traction in the playoff race. The story is becoming all too familiar, with Magnolia dropping six games by an average margin of just 3.5 points -- all close, flip-of-the-coin decisions.
Offensive woes remain the team's Achilles' heel, particularly from the perimeter. In their win against Terrafirma and their loss to San Miguel, Magnolia managed only 19.5% shooting from beyond the arc. Ricardo Ratliffe has been carrying much of the scoring burden, showcasing his versatility with averages of 28 points and 14.5 rebounds on an efficient 62 TS%. He's been effective attacking from the post, midrange, and even beyond the arc, but the lack of support from the locals remains a glaring issue.
11. NLEX Road Warriors (3-5)
The struggles continued for NLEX, as they now find themselves tied for 10th place in the standings after losing three of their first past four games. Their lone outing this week highlighted a recurring issue: The need for more production beyond stars Mike Watkins and Robert Bolick.
Watkins delivered another monster performance with 38 points and 21 rebounds, while Bolick contributed a double-double of his own with 19 points and 10 boards in their 105-91 loss against Meralco in this week. However, the duo's efforts were undermined by a combined 15 turnovers, the result of Meralco's defensive focus on containing them. On the brighter side, rookie stretch big Brandon Ramirez showed promise, scoring 12 points in just 13 minutes off the bench.
12. Blackwater Bossing (1-7)
Blackwater's struggles continue as they cope with the absence of Sedrick Barefield, who remains sidelined with a plantar fasciitis injury. Without him, the team has found it challenging to generate consistent production from its local players to support import George King.
King has done his part offensively, averaging an impressive 31 points on an efficient 62.4 TS%. Despite his efforts, Blackwater failed to secure wins against Rain or Shine and Ginebra. The lack of a reliable local player who performed well in both games has been a glaring issue.
The Ginebra loss further highlighted Blackwater's offensive woes. The team managed just 63 points, shooting a dismal 29.9% from the field, leaving them looking outmatched on that end of the floor.
13. Terrafirma Dyip (0-9)
For now, it seems that Terrafirma's direction leans toward providing their young players with opportunities to showcase their skills. In their matchups against Phoenix and Magnolia, several of their rising stars delivered solid performances.
Louie Sangalang emerged as a key contributor, averaging 14 points across the two games. Meanwhile, Brent Paraiso chipped in with 11.5 points per outing, and Mark Nonoy added 10 points per game to round out the trio of promising showings.