Discover the Complete Standing PBA 2019 Rankings and Player Performances
I remember watching the PBA 2019 season unfold with particular fascination, especially when it came to tracking how players moved through the rankings. There was something electric about that season—the way certain athletes seemed to defy expectations and others solidified their legendary status. As someone who's followed basketball analytics for over a decade, I've always believed rankings tell only part of the story; it's the performances behind those numbers that truly captivate me. The 2019 standings saw teams like San Miguel Beermen and Barangay Ginebra dominating the landscape, but what struck me most were the individual journeys that sometimes flew under the radar.
One memory that stands out vividly came from a practice session story shared by a teammate about June Mar Fajardo. "Kakasimula pa lang namin sa practice at kasama siya dun sa first team na five on the floor. Nung nakuha niya yung bola, ngumiti pa siya sa akin na parang nag-slow mo bago niya na-shoot yung layup," he recalled. That small moment—that smile before an effortless layup—perfectly encapsulated why Fajardo maintained his top position in the rankings throughout much of the season. It wasn't just his statistics, though they were impressive enough with his average of 19.3 points and 13.8 rebounds per game. It was that almost casual mastery he brought to every moment on the court, whether during a championship game or a simple practice drill. What many fans might not realize is how these practice moments often translate directly to game performance—the comfort level Fajardo displayed in that anecdote explains why he shot 58% from two-point range that season.
The 2019 rankings saw some surprising shifts that I'm still analyzing years later. Stanley Pringle's move to Barangay Ginebra mid-season created ripple effects throughout the player standings, and honestly, I think it was one of the most impactful transfers in recent PBA history. His scoring average of 16.7 points per game doesn't fully capture how he elevated the entire team's performance. Meanwhile, players like CJ Perez were making their rookie mark with explosive performances that reminded me why I fell in love with basketball analytics in the first place—there's nothing quite like watching a new talent disrupt established hierarchies. Perez put up 14.7 points per game in his debut season, but more importantly, he brought an energy that statistics can't quite quantify.
What fascinated me about the 2019 season was how the traditional ranking metrics sometimes failed to capture player value. I've always been somewhat skeptical of purely stat-based evaluations—they miss those intangible qualities that determine winning moments. Take Paul Lee's performance during the Philippine Cup finals, for instance. His fourth-quarter heroics in Game Six, where he scored 12 points in the final seven minutes, don't fully appear in his seasonal averages of 13.2 points per game, but anyone watching knew they were witnessing ranking-worthy excellence. Similarly, Scottie Thompson's all-around game—averaging 9.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 5.1 assists—demonstrated why traditional position-based rankings need updating in modern basketball analysis.
The relationship between player rankings and team success created some interesting patterns that season. Teams with multiple players in the top 20 rankings tended to perform better in the playoffs, though there were exceptions that challenged conventional wisdom. Rain or Shine, for example, had what I'd consider a well-balanced roster without any single dominant statistical leader, yet they managed to compete effectively against teams with higher-ranked individuals. This reinforced my belief that basketball remains fundamentally a team sport—individual rankings matter, but chemistry often trumps raw talent. Watching how coaches like Tim Cone managed his lineups, particularly his strategic use of Justin Brownlee during crucial moments, provided masterclasses in maximizing ranked players' impact.
As the season progressed, the evolution of certain players' rankings told compelling stories of development and adaptation. I was particularly impressed by how Christian Standhardinger adjusted his game after transitioning to the NorthPort Batang Pier, improving his scoring average from 14.1 to 19.7 points per game post-trade. His movement in the rankings throughout the season—climbing from outside the top 15 to breaking into the top 8—demonstrated how player development isn't always linear. Similarly, the gradual ascent of veterans like Marc Pingris, who maintained relevance despite his advancing age, offered lessons in longevity that I think younger players would do well to study.
Reflecting on the complete PBA 2019 rankings now, what stands out to me isn't just who finished where, but the narratives behind each position. The difference between ranking 5th and 8th often came down to moments like that practice story about Fajardo—those barely noticeable instances of excellence that accumulate over a season. While the raw data shows us that the top 10 players averaged between 15.8 and 22.4 points per game, the real story lives in how they achieved those numbers. As we look toward future seasons, I hope we continue to appreciate both the statistics and the human elements that make basketball rankings so compelling. The 2019 season, with its blend of established stars and emerging talents, provided a perfect case study in why we watch—and analyze—this beautiful game.