2016-2017 Preseason - Teams' Shooting Line-up Power Ranking!
We are less than two weeks away from the tip-off of the upcoming PBA season. So, how about ranking the best outside shooting line-up of each team?
When you talk about a sniping line-up, it doesn't mean that you put five shooters in the floor. It is the unit that best maximize the shooting capability of a team.
#12 MAHINDRA ENFORCERSG - L. Revilla
G - M. DiGregorio
F - A. Mallari
F - J. Eriobu
C - R. Escoto
This is the most unproven out of the twelve and nobody has shown that they can consistently connect on their long bombs.
#11 BLACKWATER ELITEG - R. Sumang
G - R. Banal
F - M. Belo
F - R. Cervantes
C - J. Erram
Banal and Belo are expected to be average shooters, at the least, in their first year. Sumang and Erram will be a good pick-and-roll creators to help them out.
#10 MERALCO BOLTSG - B. Amer
G - J. Uyloan
F - C. Newsome
F - C. Hodge
C - R. Hugnatan
Hugnatan rise to the occasion last conference and if he can keep this up, I expect the Bolts to have one of the better shooting five. Unless Amer continue to play amateurish.
#9 ALASKA ACESG - R. Jazul
G - C. Banchero
F - D. Hontiveros
F - C. Abueva
C - S. Thoss
Abueva is improving but #9 is just right. Jazul is the main flame-thrower of this group and they will rely more on Banchero and Abueva for playmaking.
#8 PHOENIX FUEL MASTERSG - S. Enciso
G - C. Baguio
F - M. Wright
F - J. Intal
C - D. Kramer
Enciso and Baguio sniped pretty well in their first conference together under coach Ariel with 38% and 37%, respectively. If Wright is really an above average shooter, then this line-up could be the staple of the Fuel Masters.
#7 NLEX ROAD WARRIORSG - J. Villanueva
G -G. Lanete
F - G. Khobuntin
F - M. Baracael
C - A. Taulava
I expect coach Yeng Guiao to bring out the best of this five. Villanueva has been a good shooter in his career and we all saw Lanete made 51.2% of his three-point attempts. Baracael will always need a man on him because he can shoot well while Taulava will provide the screens and get the boards.
#6 RAIN OR SHINE ELASTO PAINTERSG - C. Tiu
G - J. Cruz
F - J. Chan
F - G. Norwood
C - B. Belga
Chris Tiu and Gabe Norwood silently knocked 37.1% and 32.7% of their attempts, respectively. Those are their best marks in their career. Belga can also shoot but not that efficient and they could have trouble getting the offensive boards.
#5 BRGY. GINEBRA SAN MIGUEL
G - L. Tenorio
G - E. Thompson
F - S. Mercado
F - K. Ferrer
C - J. Aguilar
If Kevin Ferrer can reach the very high expectations of Ginebra fans, 40%+ shooting, then this unit will have a right for a top three spot. Tenorio was a killer in the Governors' Cup with his 46.7% 3FG and Thompson will be there to grab the offensive boards and make plays.
#4 STAR HOTSHOTSG - P. Lee
G - P. Simon
F - A. Maliksi
F - A. Ramos
C - M. Pingris
If this five click right away, they will create beautiful basketball. Lee, Simon, Maliksi and Ramos are all above-average to elite shooter but I don't see any one of them as a very good playmaker so they will need to manufacture good looks as a team.
#3 SAN MIGUEL BEERMENG - A. Cabagnot
G - M. Lassiter
F - R. Tubid
F - A. Santos
C - J. Fajardo
The Beermen has been in the top four of three-pointers made in the last three conferences. They have the best pure shooter in the league and Cabagnot will be there to make the right calls. Tubid's year as a terrorizing threat from the outside could be over this year and that pushed them to #3.
#2 GLOBALPORT BATANG PIERG - T. Romeo
G - S. Pringle
F - N. Canaleta
F - J. Quinahan
C - M. Pennisi
This is a dream line-up of the three-point shooting aficionados. Romeo and Pringle can racked up ten long bombs in a game and now that they have Canaleta, Quinahan and Pennisi? We could see 20 three-pointers from Batang Pier! I am excited to see how Romeo and Pringle will move and play with those three.
#1 TNT TROPANG TEXTERSG - J. Castro
G - R. Reyes
F - L. Fonacier
F - T. Rosario
C - R. De Ocampo
Overall, this is the best five right now. All of them are respectable shooters that none of them should be left open from the outside. The beauty of this five is, four of those five can make plays. And of course, having Castro as the driver magnify this unit.
