Debate on best first five rages in quarantine time

MANILA, Philippines — Sports may be at a standstill because of the COVID-19 pandemic but that didn’t stop Pinoy players, coaches and casual fans from thinking and talking about basketball online while on home quarantine.

The deadliest first five in the PBA became a hot topic on Twitter and quickly, ballers, and aficionados went to work and made a case for which group they felt deserves this distinction.

Alaska coach Jeff Cariaso posted a photo of himself with Aces batchmates Willie Miller, Sonny Thoss, Reynel Hugnatan and Tony dela Cruz, and said he’d argue for this five.

San Miguel Beer’s Chris Ross batted for his team-up with six-time MVP June Mar Fajardo, Arwind Santos, Alex Cabagnot and Marcio Lassiter.

Ginebra’s Joe Devance placed his bet on his grand-slam-winning collaboration with James Yap, Marc Pingris, Mark Barroca and PJ Simon at San Mig Coffee.

There were several replies, mentioning among others Ginebra’s Jayjay Helterbrand, Mark Caguioa, Rodney Santos, Eric Menk and Andy Seigle; TNT’s Jimmy Alapag, Kelly Williams, Ali Peek, Larry Fonacier and Ryan Reyes; Alaska’s grand slam five of Johnny Abarrientos, Jojo Lastimosa, Bong Hawkins, Poch Juinio and Cariaso, and Sunkist’s Vergel Meneses, Kenneth Duremdes, Nelson Asaytono, Boybits Victoria and Bonel Balingit.

The STAR scoured the rich 45-year PBA history to give hoops guys more choices in the social media debate.

Heading this list of course are the stalwarts of legendary rivals Crispa and Toyota.

Abet Guidaben, Philip Cezar, Atoy Co, Freddie Hubalde, and Bernie Fabiosa took up starting positions for the Redmanizers, winning not one but two Triple Crowns. All but one of the Crispa five are MVP plum winners.

Toyota’s 1979 starters Mon Fernandez, Robert Jaworski, Abe King, Francis Arnaiz and then first-ever Best Rookie/Mythical Five awardee Arnie Tuadles were as lethal as their nemeses.

Bogs Adornado, Ricky Brown, Manny Victorino, Joel Banal, and Norman Black (as import) formed the first five of Great Taste, which broke the Crispa-Toyota rivalry in the 1980s.

Purefoods fab five Alvin Patrimonio, Jerry Codiñera, Jojo Lastimosa, Glenn Capacio and Dindo Pumaren ushered in a new PBA era.

Before that, Fernandez joined forces with Yves Dignadice, Samboy Lim, Brown, and Hector Calma to lead SMB to its 1989 grand slam.

Alaska joined the elite club of treble winners in 1996 with a starting unit made up of Abarrientos, Lastimosa, Hawkins, Juinio and Cariaso. The Milkmen sustained their great run with Duremdes later taking over from Cariaso.

Who’s your pick?