Complete 2019 Honda PBA Philippine Cup Standings and Final Team Rankings
Looking back at the 2019 Honda PBA Philippine Cup, I still get that familiar thrill thinking about how the tournament unfolded. As someone who's followed Philippine basketball for over a decade, I've seen plenty of conferences come and go, but there's something special about the Philippine Cup - the purest form of PBA basketball where teams can't rely on imported players to bail them out. This particular season had its share of surprises, dramatic turnarounds, and that underlying buzz about potential player movements that always seems to linger in the background of Philippine basketball.
I remember watching the elimination rounds with growing anticipation, noticing how San Miguel Beer was building momentum in a way that felt almost inevitable. They finished the eliminations with an 8-3 record, which honestly didn't fully capture their dominance when it mattered most. What struck me about their campaign was how they seemed to conserve energy during the early games, then flip a switch when the playoffs approached. June Mar Fajonaldo was, well, June Mar Fajonaldo - an unstoppable force in the paint who averaged around 18 points and 12 rebounds throughout the conference. But what really impressed me was how their role players stepped up at crucial moments. Teams would double-team Fajonaldo, only to have Marcio Lassiter or Chris Ross burn them from beyond the arc.
The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters surprised me with their second-place finish in the eliminations, posting a 9-2 record that showcased their depth and coaching. I've always admired how Coach Caloy Garcia maximizes his roster, and this conference was a masterclass in team basketball. They didn't have the superstar power of other teams, but their system created open looks and their defensive rotations were crisp. Meanwhile, Phoenix Pulse finished strong at 8-3, with Matthew Wright showing why he's one of the most underrated players in the league. His clutch shooting in their must-win game against Magnolia still stands out in my memory - hitting back-to-back three-pointers in the final two minutes to seal their playoff spot.
The quarterfinals brought the intensity we've come to expect from PBA playoffs, with the best-of-three series format always producing at least one upset. Barangay Ginebra's victory over NorthPort was particularly memorable - that series went the distance, with Game 3 going down to the final possession. LA Tenorio's veteran leadership shone through, and I recall thinking how his experience in big moments gave Ginebra that slight edge they needed. Meanwhile, Magnolia handled their business against Alaska in two relatively straightforward games, though the scores were closer than the series outcome suggested.
Now, the semifinals were where things got really interesting. San Miguel faced Phoenix in a best-of-seven that many expected to be competitive, but the Beermen showed their championship pedigree, winning 4-1. What stood out to me was Game 4, where Phoenix had a chance to even the series but collapsed in the fourth quarter - a reminder that experience in pressure situations can't be overstated. On the other side, Rain or Shine squared off against Magnolia in what turned into an absolute war. That series went the full seven games, with Magnolia pulling through in a tight Game 7 that came down to the final minutes. Paul Lee's performance in that clincher was spectacular - he dropped 28 points, including four three-pointers, and completely took over in the fourth quarter.
The championship series between San Miguel and Magnolia felt like a classic matchup between an established dynasty and a hungry challenger. San Miguel took Game 1 comfortably, but Magnolia responded with a gutsy Game 2 victory that made everyone sit up and take notice. What impressed me most about that series was how both teams adjusted game to game - Coach Leo Austria's strategic moves against Coach Chito Victolero's counter-adjustments made for fascinating basketball. The turning point came in Game 5, with the series tied 2-2. San Miguel won by just three points in what I consider the best game of the conference - back-and-forth action, big shots from both sides, and championship-level defense when it mattered.
When San Miguel eventually hoisted the trophy after winning Game 6, 99-94, it felt like the culmination of their steady build throughout the conference. They finished with a 13-4 overall record in the tournament, with Fajonaldo rightly earning Finals MVP honors after averaging around 22 points and 15 rebounds in the championship series. Looking at the final standings, San Miguel sat atop with Magnolia as runners-up, followed by Rain or Shine and Phoenix in the semifinals, then Ginebra, NorthPort, Alaska, and TNT in the quarterfinals. The bottom of the table saw NLEX, Blackwater, Columbian, and Meralco missing the playoffs, though each had moments that suggested better days ahead.
Which brings me to something that was buzzing throughout the tournament - the speculation about Jio Jalalon potentially moving teams. There were talks that if Jalalon ended up at Blackwater, his stay would be short-lived as he'd eventually land with TNT Tropang G5. These kinds of rumors always swirl during PBA conferences, and they affect team dynamics more than people realize. I've seen how uncertainty about roster moves can impact player performance, both for the player involved and his teammates. From my perspective, TNT would have been an interesting fit for Jalalon - their up-tempo style matches his skills perfectly. But these potential moves remind us that team standings aren't just about what happens on the court, but also about front office decisions that shape rosters for future conferences.
Reflecting on the 2019 Philippine Cup, what stands out isn't just the final rankings but the narratives that developed throughout. San Miguel reinforced their status as the team to beat in all-Filipino conferences, while teams like Rain or Shine and Phoenix showed they're closing the gap. The middle of the pack remained highly competitive, with the difference between making the playoffs and going home often coming down to a single possession in critical games. As we look toward future tournaments, the foundation laid in this conference - both in terms of team development and potential player movements - will undoubtedly influence the PBA landscape for seasons to come. The beauty of Philippine basketball lies in these evolving stories, where today's standings tell only part of an ongoing narrative.
