PBA POWER RANKINGS

After a busy month, the crew of Barber Speak wanna say, "It's Nice to be BACK!"

POWER RANKINGS ( From the first 28 PBA Games):

• 1st Place: Barako Bull Energy (4-1 Win-Loss Record)

This veteran laden team is currently tied in second place of the standings, but this team deserves to be in the front seat of Power Rankings. After surprising all of us with a fiery 4 game winning streak, this team has become a contender for this year's Philippine Cup (This blog gave the team a top 8 prediction). A mix of good veteran players and fiery rookies lead by the Thriller and Dynamite, this team is now ready to bring back the Glory Years of the Ang Bumangga Giba Franchise. After Losing to Petron in their Opening Game, They return the favor to sister teams Ginebra and recently the Llamados. They also got a good win from the defending champion Talk n Text Tropang Texters. This team just wanna prove that they have a place in this league, and their franchise is no PUSH OVER anymore. 

• 2nd Place: Rain or Shine Elasto Painters ( 5-1 Win-Loss Record)

Paul Lee is here! That's the first thing you will hear about the noise that the Elasto Painters are giving to the League. But the success of this team is more than Paul Lee can give, this former "young team" is slowly but surely becoming a mature team and definitely peaking at the right time. With Gabe's all round performance, Jeff Chan's and Ronjay Buenafe's hot shooting, and with the Extra Rice duo of Belga and Quinahan, this team has become a team to reckon with this conference. Maybe some of you will ask, "why I only rank this team as 2nd place only?" It's because their performance is expected already. The Painters are the most balanced team in the league and the only Problem I see last September to this team is their Maturity. But it is quite obvious that maturity is not anymore a problem. I expect this team to advance in the semi final round.

• 3rd Place: Talk n Text Tropang Texters ( 4-1 Win-Loss Record)

No explanation needed, I will really be surprise if we will not see this team in the Finals.

• 4th Place: Petron Blaze Boosters ( 3-3 Win-Loss Record)

The Boosters had a good start after winning their first three games. But injury haunt them when Hontiveros (out 6 months) and Miranda got injuries. I cannot blame the team with their 3 game slump. It's just hard to win when your only playing with 10 players and only ONE healthy Point Guard. With their game against the Texters, Alex Cabagnot played the whole 48 minutes and seriously Ato Agustin is the person to blame. Why did you not get the 14th player in time? Why did you not give A-Cab a rest? Yes he is only the point guard available, but that's not a reason, remember, the texters feed their game with ENERGY, how can you match your opponent with energy if your players don't have the rest their needed? 

• 5th Place: Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings (3-2 Win Loss Record) 

Seriously, I DID NOT expect that I will rank Ginebra in the upper echelon of the Power Rankings. Their Game is really UNORGANIZED, the only good thing I can see with this team is clutch and hardwork. I really think personally, that trading young players like jimbo is not a solution, they need younger legs, that's why IF I will ask for a trade, the names of Yancy De Ocampo, and Ronald Tubid are the first guys that will float in my mind. 

• 6th Place-7th Place(tie): Meralco Bolts and Powerade Tigers 
• 8th Place: Bmeg Llamados
• 9th Place: Shopinas Clickers
• 10th Place: Alaska Aces

" Philip Zuñiga is a graduate of Philippine Normal University. He is a certified sports fan since 1996. "