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Power Rankings #3: Hustlers take 1-2 spots
by Jonas Terrado (March 16, 2010)

The PBL Power Rankings is back after a one-week hiatus and we're nearing the homestretch of the 2010 PBL PG Flex-Erase Placenta elimination round and up for grabs are spots in the semifinals set to begin this Saturday.

Unfortunately, we weren't able to produce our rankings last week but for those who are interested to know, here's the 10 players that made the cut.

10. Jopher Custodio (Ani-FCA)
9. Paul Zamar (Cossack Blue)
8. Vic Manuel (Pharex B-Complex)
7. James Martinez (Cossack Blue)
6. Ian Sangalang (Excelroof)
5. Woody Co (Pharex B-Complex)
4. June Dizon (Fern-C)
3. JR Taganas (Cossack Blue)
2. Patrick Cabahug (Cobra Energy Drink)
1. John Wilson (Fern-C)

This week, it's a duo of two workhorse cagers in Pharex's Vic Manuel and Excelroof's Calvin Abueva who topped the rankings. There are eight others who also deserved to be commended for playing well during their previous games.

10. Christian Luanzon (Ani-FCA)
Last Week: N/A
Stats: 28 points on 9-of-23 FG shooting and seven rebounds against Cobra last week
Conference Avgs: 11.3 points on 30-percent shooting and 5.2 rebounds

The former UST Growling Tiger barely made it to the Top 10 despite another heartbreaking setback for the Cultivators, this time an 87-85 overtime loss at the hands of the star-studded Cobra Energy Drink last Saturday.

Although he had some crucial turnovers during the fourth and overtime periods combined (he turned the ball over five times and muffed 7-of-10 shots from downtown), credit Luanzon for bringing Ani-FCA back from a double-digit deficit and eventually pushed the Ironmen to the limit with several clutch baskets from the outside. Unfortunately, the Cultivators are still looking for that elusive first victory.

9. John Wilson (Fern-C)
Last Week: 1st
Stats: 25.5 points on 33-percent shooting, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists last week
Conference Avgs: 28.0 points on 40-percent shooting, 8.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists

One of the most productive players in the ongoing conference was in his usual form but his team likewise continued its losing ways and eventually became one of the early teams that bowed out of semifinal contention.

The NCAA Most Valuable Player almost carried Fern-C to an upset win over Excelroof firing 30 points but bowed in overtime. Two days later, he was "held" to just 21 points in a disappointing double-digit loss to Ascof Lagundi despite slashing a huge 30-point deficit into seven late in the final canto. Unfortunately, with less depth and a lack of support, Wilson remained the lone bright spot for the Ferntastics.

8. Edwin Asoro (Ascof Lagundi)
Last Week: N/A
Stats: 15.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists last week
Conference Avgs: 11.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists

After a slow start, the former UAAP Mythical Five awardee for the NU Bulldogs finally made solid contributions for Ascof Lagundi in the ongoing conference helping the team win back-to-back games for the first time this conference and keep its slim semifinal hopes alive.

The PBL veteran was one of four double-digit scorers in the Cough Busters' 74-71 upset of Cobra Energy Drink last Tuesday. In that contest, he made 12 points and seven rebounds. Two days later, Asoro topscored with 19 points and once again grabbed seven boards as Ascof Lagundi pulverized Fern-C after leading by about 30 points in the third canto.

7. JR Tecson (Pharex B-Complex)
Last Week: N/A
Stats: 19 points on 4-of-4 3pt shooting against AddMix last week
Conference Avgs: 11.6 points on 44-percent shooting

The former San Beda Red Lion had his most consistent performance of the conference erupting for 16 points in the second quarter of Pharex's 86-83 win over AddMix that earned them a spot in the semifinals.

Shrugging off a reputation as being a volume shooter in the NCAA, Tecson made a rare shooting clinic making all of his four attempts from rainbow country. He only had three points in the second half but it didn't matter at all as his teammates were there to finish the job.

6. Earn Saguindel (Cossack Blue)
Last Week: N/A
Stats: 29 points, 9-of-14 shooting and four assists against Excelroof last week
Conference Avgs: 13.8 points on 51-percent shooting, 2.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists

Oftentimes, Saguindel would turn himself from the role of a playmaker to a scorer as seen in the Spirits' 89-82 loss to Excelroof last Saturday. In that contest, he led all scorers with 29 points.

The Cebu native had 14 points in the first half then made several baskets against the tall and hefty Excelroof frontline to keep the game close. Unfortunately, half of his four turnovers came during the dying minutes, costing Cossack Blue the victory. It also didn't help that both James Martinez and Jorel Canizares struggled.

5. Jimbo Aquino (Excelroof)
Last Week: N/A
Stats: 15.5 points on 47-percent shooting last week
Conference Avgs: 16.2 points on 40-percent shooting

Aquino has been struggling shooting the ball as of late and that at times kept Excelroof in trouble in its previous two games. But one thing good about this reigning NCAA Finals Most Valuable Player is that he makes shots when needed the most.

In the 25ers' pulsating 87-83 win over Fern-C last Tuesday, Aquino made just one basket for three quarters but exploded for eight points in the fourth period then converted a key shot that put his team on top for good. And last Saturday, he overcame a 7-of-19 clip by hitting clutch jumpers, particularly in the fourth quarter when he hit a leaner with a minute left for an 80-71 lead against Cossack Blue.

4. JR Taganas (Cossack Blue)
Last Week: 3rd
Stats: nine points and 21 rebounds against Excelroof last week
Conference Avgs: 9.2 points and 16.7 rebounds

The burly 6-foot-3 big man remained as the only cager to have double-digit rebounds every game. And last Saturday, he grabbed 21 rebounds, four shy of the league record set by Asi Taulava way back in the 1998 2nd Centennial Cup when the Fil-Tongan was still a young upstart for new team Blu Detergent.

Taganas, a former RP Youth standout and a member of the three-peat winning San Beda teams from 2006-2008, made 11 boards by halftime and already had 17 after three quarters. He was held a bit by the Excelroof frontline in the payoff period but was making tough jumpers, including one from the deep corner, that kept Cossack Blue in the contest.

3. Paul Lee (Cobra Energy Drink)
Last Week: N/A
Stats: 16.5 points on 45-percent shooting, 8.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.5 steals last week
Conference Avgs: 19.2 points on 54-percent shooting, 7.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.3 steals

After struggling the last two games (scoring back-to-back 11-point games), the "Cobra Commander", as dubbed by the commentators of Basketball TV, finally got out of that slump by regaining his role as the Ironmen's lifesaver in beating Ani-FCA in overtime last Saturday.

Despite missing 15-of-24 shots, Lee kept Cobra afloat despite wasting a double-digit lead by making big shots and playing smart basketbal that saw him make a "nakaw play" with more than 30 seconds left to put his team up 75-73. And although the Cultivators were able to force an extra session, the UAAP Mythical Five member scored a go-ahead layup then fed an open Jai Reyes for an 86-82 advantage with just 51 ticks remaining. That was enough to help Cobra survive this grueling matchup and kept its hopes of clinching a twice-to-beat advantage in the semis.

2. Calvin Abueva (Excelroof)
Last Week: N/A
Stats: 12.0 points and 11.0 rebounds last week
Conference Avgs: 11.0 points and 8.3 rebounds

The 6-foot-2 cager continues to provide hustle, aggressiveness and energy, even in the Philippine Basketball League. And when he's on the floor, those qualities quickly rubbed off on the rest of his teammates and also propelled the Excelroof 25ers to claim the second semifinals berth.

He's undersized for a power forward but he's making up for it with his high-leaping ability and also by giving screens and maintaining a "playing not to lose" mentality for 40 minutes. He showed it against Cossack Blue when his non-stop efforts enabled the 25ers to get some second chance points and also made one of the most memorable plays of the tournament when he grabbed the defensive rebound off a miss, fixed his headband while dribbling the ball before completing a coast-to-coast layup that made it a four-point swing and a 78-70 lead with two minutes to go. Abueva finished that contest with 13 points and 14 boards for his first double-double of the tournament.

1. Vic Manuel (Pharex B-Complex)
Last Week: 8th
Stats: 16 points and 15 rebounds against AddMix last week
Conference Avgs: 17.0 points on 62-percent shooting and 9.3 rebounds

The 22-year old, semi-lanky 6-foot-4 Manuel earned the distinction as the first player to gain top spot in the Power Rankings twice after powering Pharex to the first semifinals berth of the season-opening conference.

A week after making 13 points and six rebounds in less than 20 minutes against Cossack Blue, the former PSBA Jaguar turned in another double-double effort with 16 points and 15 rebounds against AddMix. He then helped the Fighting Maroons took the lead for good by grabbing a missed shot by the Transformers then raced all the way for a three-point conversion for an 86-83 lead with less than 90 ticks to go. The score stayed the same until the final buzzer and the second team of Pascual Laboratories earned the improbable distinction as the first PBL semifinalist. Manuel will have to work doubly hard this time around, he meets Excelroof and Calvin Abueva on Tuesday with the No. 1 spot in the semifinals on the line.

Honorable Mention: Gilbert Bulawan, Ian Sangalang and Pamboy Raymundo (Excelroof), Jai Reyes (Cobra Energy Drink), Marlon Adolfo (Pharex B-Complex),

For comments and suggestions, you may visit my Twitter account at http://www.twitter.com/jonastsinelas. We will rate the 10 best PBL players each week.

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