My choices for Governors’ Cup

THERE’S no question that Justin Brownlee of Barangay Ginebra remains to be the yardstick among all reinforcements seeing action in the PBA Governors’ Cup.

Who would argue with four PBA championships?

But the question is how Barangay Ginebra can perform as a team following the changes it made over the course of the year.

The biggest adjustment is focused on Christian Standhardinger, the team’s biggest acquisition prior to the start of the season. The 6-foot-8, Fil-German was acquired by the Gin Kings in exchange for seven-foot slotman Greg Slaughter who now plays for NorthPort.

Although Standhardinger did produce solid numbers for Ginebra, averaging double-double figures of 14.33 points and 10.75 rebounds per game in the Philippine Cup, his ability to play in synch with the rest of the squad definitely needs more improvement.

The Gin Kings will have another new player in Sidney Onwubere, a hardworking forward, who had a solid campaign with the Batang Pier in the recent tournament. He was picked by the Gin Kings for the often-injured Art dela Cruz.

As a team, I see TNT looming as the force to reckon with.

The Tropang Giga went on to win the recent Philippine Cup, ending a six-year title drought and giving coach Chot Reyes a fitting homecoming in the PBA.

Keeping its roster intact and making gradual changes by picking up Gab Banal, a free agent, and a versatile player who can fit into the system of the Tropang Giga, TNT has an added weapon that gives the squad more firepower, more versatility and more basketball IQ.

The Tropang Giga passed up on import K.J. McDaniels and opted to bring in McKenzie Moore.

Moore played for TNT in the East Asia Super League tournament a few years ago, and his selfless brand of play and his attitude are qualities that make him a good fit for the Tropang Giga.

Learning that McDaniels was available, NLEX immediately jumped on to the opportunity and booked the import.

With NLEX, McDaniels will be back to his familiar role as the team’s primary option on offense. He seems to be a good fit for a Road Warriors team that needs additional size and athleticism up front.

McDaniels was the second best scorer in the Governors’ Cup two years ago, averaging 37.09 points per game. However, he led the tournament in shot blocks with 3.45 rejections per game and also pulled down 13.91 rebounds per game.

This means McDaniels is one player who can practically do it all offensively and defensively. With still a few more days left before the start of the tournament, he is expected to get himself more familiar with the NLEX system.

I won’t be surprised if TNT makes another run for the championship and I expect NLEX to take its game to the next level by making it to the Final Four.

Once you’re in the semifinals, it’s going to be anybody’s game and the Road Warriors could put themselves in a better position to finally claim their first ever PBA championship.

As for the other two spots in the Final Four, the race is wide open and expect the Magnolia Hotshots, the Meralco Bolts and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters to be in the mix as well as the Beermen and the Gin Kings, of course.

There’s a lot of interesting stories in store, but I see the Tropang Giga cementing their claim as a serious title contender, and the Road Warriors making a serious push for a Final Four bid — and a possible trip to the finals.

We have four more days left before the opening of the tournament, and imports who have been here a few days earlier and had joined the team’s practices, will definitely have a big advantage.