Denied, Eliminated

Giants in the PBA
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

It's tough playing in the PBA-- with the demand and expectation of management, family, friends and fans. To try and play at a very high level, and once there, to maintain it all throughout a grueling season of limited respite and recluse.

While eight teams will carry on into the Playoff rounds of the ongoing PBA Commissioner's Cup, four will be denied entry. Three of which have already been made clear to the masses: newcomers Kia Carnival and Blackwater, and newly-minted PBA All Filipino Cup titlist San Miguel Beer. The fourth one will be decided later on today, if it's going to be the AFC 2nd placers Alaska, or Global Port (depending on how Alaska's match versus Barangay Ginebra turns out).

Silver lining of course is that the four eliminated teams of this conference (plus performance in the 1st conference, so there's some math to be done) will be allowed to bring in imports of unlimited height (compared to the Top 8's 6"5 ceiling) plus an Asian reinforcement of their choosing (6"4 ceiling).

Here we take a look at what went right and wrong for the three teams that have been eliminated, and how their chances are going into the next conference.

Blackwater Elite
On paper, the Elite should've enjoyed far more success than their current 2 wins and 8 losses record suggests. Marcus Douthit anchored the team quite well, despite showing some signs of rust and age, and new stars like Brian Heruela, Brian Faundo (!) and Bambam Gamalinda have all willingly stepped up to the plate. Next conference, we'd love to give Douthit another chance but we are not a fan of his body language post-FIBA Worlds. There's just something off about it. The way he talks and answers media queries. Hopefully, he can bounce back if the Elite choose to maintain his services. If not, we'd like for the Elite to go for a high scoring big man who can command the double team in the post and open things up for the Elite's bevy of shooters and scorers (Gamalinda, Sunday Salvacion, Val Acuna). Reil Cervantes is a good pick-up to man the 4 spot as well, making the Elite more and more traditionally built per position.

Kia Carnival
a.k.a. PJ Ramos and friends. Seriously, where would this team be without the 7"4 Puerto Rican juggernaut who basically made former PBA MVPs and established Filipino Hulks Junemar Fajardo and Asi Taulava to look like gangling teenagers? We're not sure about trading Cervantes away, but we're happy that they are going to try Alex Nuyles out as possibly their newest option at the 2 or 3 spot. L.A. Revilla seems healthy, and when he is, he's arguably one of the best natural, homegrown point guards around. Problem was his bout with injuries and diabetes but those seem to be under control. Life is good for head coach Manny Pacquiao since any Asian basketball superstar would find it VERY hard to resist being part of the Pacman's entourage. Those Korean and Japanese sharpshooters would probably froth in the mouth and fly to Manila if they were told that Pacman's team, with Ramos in tow, is looking for a specialist.

San Miguel Beermen
What the hell happened? Guys were hurt. Sure. Tired? Okay. Alaska's also on the cusp of being eliminated so yes, we'll accept that one. But wait. No. This isn't the old Beermen that rely on one or two players to win games by playing them 40 minutes a night. Five guys are legitimate All-PBA, none of which averaged more than 33 minutes a night. The bench is solid. Again. What the hell happened? The rotation? The import? The coaching? Leo Austria went on record to say how "disgusted" he was with his team and even walked out on them. That means something. The hunger, the desire, more than fatigue, just wasn't there for the Beermen this conference to merit their own coach to walkout on them. If the core players: Arwind Santos, Alex Cabagnot, Marcio Lassiter and Chris Lutz are hurt, then they'll have enough time to recover from today until next conference. AZ Reid was going off last night about how he'll still be around (doubtful, now that the Beermen, depending on the math, can bring someone of unlimited height so they should still explore this option) so that's a plus. They can also shop around for an Asian guard to bolster their chances.

So who do you think had the most disappointing run this conference? And who will join them, Alaska or GlobalPort? Hit us up on Twitter @kilikilishot