This is a five-part blog on the best players of the PBA in the 2023-24 season.
For this list, I used this multiplier:
POINTS | 1.25
REBOUNDS | 1.5
ASSISTS | 2
STEALS | 2.5
BLOCKS | 2.75
To make the list, the players must have 400 total stats or more. To rank higher on the list, the players must have a combined average of 20 or more.
This list favors the teams with the most games. Gone are the days when the best team gets at least 60 games, but it’s safe to say that most players on this list had a combined 25 or more games.
50 | STANLEY PRINGLE | BARANGAY GINEBRA KINGS
2023-24 OVERALL TEAM RECORD | 20 – 14 (.588)
2023-24 PBA PHILIPPINE CUP SEMIFINALIST
2023-24 PBA COMMISSIONER'S CUP SEMIFINALIST
SEASON AVERAGES | 8.4PPG – 2.4RPG – 1.7APG – 1.0SPG
At 37 years old and with a pro career that started in 2009, Stanley Pringle's best days are probably behind him now. This is the second straight season in which he averaged in single digits, and with Maverick Ahanmisi coming in to possibly serve as his replacement, Stan The Man just wouldn't let up. With the injuries to Scottie Thompson and LA Tenorio, Pringle upped his season numbers by posting 9.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.1 steals in the Philippine Cup.
49 | ISAAC GO | TERRAFIRMA DYIP
2023-24 OVERALL TEAM RECORD | 9 – 16 (.360)
SEASON AVERAGES | 8.8PPG – 5.2RPG – 1.2APG – 0.7BPG
Isaac Go had a bad rookie year and an even worse sophomore season. With that said, Terrafirma transformed into a team to watch (barring lopsided trades) with Go finally playing significant minutes. In the Philippine Cup, the former Ateneo ace averaged 11.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.1 blocks. Team Dyip will miss the services of Javi Gomez de Liano, but at least they have a vital cog ready for the challenge.
48 | REY NAMBATAC | RAIN OR SHINE / BLACKWATER
2023-24 OVERALL TEAM RECORD | 5 – 17 (.227)
SEASON AVERAGES | 10.4PPG – 2.7RPG – 3.3APG
The disgruntled former Letran Knight finally got what he wanted. Yeng Guiao's no-superstar policy took his progress a step back, and he wants a change of scenery. Blackwater gave Sting Rey's career back on an upward trajectory and while there's a chance that he's going to move to TNT, at least he's not being a second-stringer to either Andrei Caracut or Jhonard Clarito.
48 | REY SUERTE | BLACKWATER BOSSING
2023-24 OVERALL TEAM RECORD | 5 – 17 (.227)
SEASON AVERAGES | 10.5PPG – 3.7RPG – 2.6APG – 0.8SPG
Rey Nambatac is Blackwater's number-two guy this season, but he had an uneventful stint with Rain or Shine, which led to the trade. Before the arrival of Nambatac, and eventually James Kwekuteye, Rey Suerte had a career year in the PBA, especially during the Commissioner's Cup, where he posted 12 points, four rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 0.9 steals.
47 | RAYMOND ALMAZAN | MERALCO BOLTS
2023-24 OVERALL TEAM RECORD | 25 – 14 (.641)
2023-24 PBA PHILIPPINE CUP CHAMPION
SEASON AVERAGES | 7.0PPG – 6.3RPG – 0.5BPG
In terms of numbers, Raymond Almazan's Meralco version isn't as good as his Rain or Shine version. Yes, he was involved in a road-related scandal at the start of 2024, but he just settled on a backup role, and he's not doing anything about it. However, his numbers evolved during the Philippine Cup, averaging 8.0 points and 6.7 rebounds. It's a slight increase, but this was also enough to help the Bolts obtain their first PBA title.
45 | KELLY WILLIAMS | TNT TROPANG GIGA
2023-24 OVERALL TEAM RECORD | 12 – 14 (.462)
SEASON AVERAGES | 9.7PPG – 7.0RPG – 1.0APG – 0.7SPG
TNT had every reason to chase for Rey Nambatac. For the first time in years, TNT played a season with a lackluster lineup. Despite the return of Chot Reyes, the roster isn't as optimal with all the injuries and departures. The situation is so grave that Kelly Williams, a player who went from Sta. Lucia scoring powerhouse to TNT defensive stopper, almost averaged in double digits this season. The 42-year-old Machine Gun averaged 11.8 points and 7.8 rebounds during the Philippine Cup.
44 | TERRENCE ROMEO | SAN MIGUEL BEERMEN
2023-24 OVERALL TEAM RECORD | 33 – 11 (.750)
2023-24 PBA COMMISSIONER’S CUP CHAMPION
2023-24 PBA PHILIPPINE CUP FINALIST
2024 PBA ALL-STAR SELECTION
SEASON AVERAGES | 12.0PPG – 1.8RPG – 3.2APG
I don't know how big are his SMB perks, but Terrence Romeo is back, and his numbers aren't what they used to be. Again, it's hard to be the first option when he's playing with a 6-time MVP and a potential MVP, and it doesn't help his case that he is playing in limited minutes. Also, he is still struggling to find his place with the Beermen. It's like Romeo is in a tough spot because most players who leave the SMC teams would often drift to obscurity, but staying would also mean deteriorating numbers despite championships.
43 | KEN TUFFIN | PHOENIX FUEL MASTERS
PBA DRAFT | ROUND 1 – PICK 6
2023-24 OVERALL TEAM RECORD | 13 – 15 (.464)
2023-24 PBA COMMISSIONER’S CUP SEMIFINALIST
SEASON AVERAGES | 10.7PPG – 5.0RPG – 1.8APG
Phoenix started the season starved of talent. Not only are they still reeling from the loss of Matthew Wright to the Japan B-League, but it didn't help that Encho Serrano, their rookie who averaged in double figures in the previous, chose the MPBL over them. So any player Phoenix would pick in the draft is a must-play, and Ken Tuffin took advantage of the situation. The former FEU Tamaraw and Wellington Saint finished his rookie year as the team's second-leading scorer, and the Fuel Masters also scored a semifinal berth. Tuffin averaged 12.8ppg, 5.8rpg, 1.9apg, and 0.9spg during the Philippine Cup.
42 | MARCIO LASSITER | SAN MIGUEL BEERMEN
2023-24 OVERALL TEAM RECORD | 33 – 11 (.750)
2023-24 PBA COMMISSIONER’S CUP CHAMPION
2023-24 PBA PHILIPPINE CUP FINALIST
2024 PBA ALL-STAR SELECTION
SEASON AVERAGES | 10.0PPG – 2.9RPG – 1.8APG – 0.7SPG
This was not a good season for Super Marcio. He actually averaged 9.98 points, which is a career-low since he never really averaged in single digits in all of his 13 seasons in the league. It did not help that San Miguel is overloaded with options and the former Gilas player is already 37 years old. That said, he is 23 triples away from beating Jimmy Alapag's record, and he made most of his 3-point field goals during the Philippine Cup where he normed 11.5ppg, 3.2rpg, and 2.0apg.
41 | GIAN MAMUYAC | RAIN OR SHINE ELASTO PAINTERS
2023-24 OVERALL TEAM RECORD | 14 – 16 (.467)
2023-24 PBA PHILIPPINE CUP SEMIFINALIST
SEASON AVERAGES | 10.7PPG – 2.8RPG – 2.5APG – 0.9SPG
Yeng Guiao is a fan of two things - a player who can understand his system and a dude who goes the extra mile in defense. Thankfully for Gian Mamuyac, he is both. He compiles a lot of stats in just over 20 minutes of action and raised his scoring average and field goal percentage this season. ROS was also able to reach the semifinals in the Philippine Cup, in which Mamu averaged 12.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.2 steals.