In Philippine basketball history, few players are remembered solely for their defensive prowess.
From 1995 to 2017, a clear defensive lineage exists, starting with Shell's Jun Marzan and continuing with Rain or Shine's Jireh Ibañes.
The Shell Turbo Chargers were a significant presence in the PBA from 1985 to 2006. Over two decades, the team etched its name in league history, winning four championships, including a memorable back-to-back triumph in 1998 and 1999.
By January 2006, reports surfaced that Welcoat was nearing a deal to purchase the Shell franchise. This was confirmed in February when the PBA announced Welcoat's entry as the league’s 10th team for the 2006–2007 season. The Shell-to-Welcoat transition highlighted the evolving nature of the PBA, and this is also the reason why I chose the rivalry.
Jun Marzan was an important part of the Shell teams of the '90s up until its disbandment. The Phantom was there from the time of Bobby Parks to the era of John Best. He was there when the team was struggling as well as when the team was competing for championships. While he was never a big-time scorer, Marzan made sure the player he was guarding was contained.
And while it took a while, Jireh Ibañes is no different. While it took Marzan a team switch from Ginebra to Shell to gain his PBA footing, the former UP Fighting Maroon slowly rose above the Rain or Shine ranks. Abby Santos may have been the team's first-ever draft pick, but it was Ibanes who stayed from the team's debut. Up to this day, while Ibanes may have retired in 2017, he was able to transition as part of the Rain or Shine management. Whenever Yeng Guiao wants a shadow or an ankle tracker on an opposing scorer, Jireh Ibanes is his man.
These two players left their mark on the league through gritty defense and hustle plays, but who truly takes the crown as the better defender?
THE STATS
Jun Marzan, affectionately known as "The Phantom," was Shell’s designated defensive leech throughout the 1990s. Tasked with shutting down opposing scorers, Marzan's contributions went beyond the stat sheet. His ability to shadow stars like Vergel Meneses, Jojo Lastimosa, Jeffrey Cariaso, Kenneth Duremdes, and Allan Caidic made him indispensable to Shell’s defensive schemes. With two championships to his name, Marzan was a crucial piece in Shell’s success during that era.
Jireh Ibañes, on the other hand, brought his brand of defense to Rain or Shine, a Defensive Player of the Year award, two All-Defensive Teams, and two PBA championships. Unlike Marzan, Ibañes supplemented his defense with timely offensive contributions, averaging 6.9 PPG in his rookie year—a career-high.
Ibañes also had more games compared to Marzan who also battled several injuries throughout his career. There is a reason why Marzan got the Phantom moniker, and it's because at one point in his career, he played with a protective mask.
When comparing their numbers, Ibañes edges out Marzan in key areas, especially in offensive production and minutes played. However, Marzan’s defensive numbers—like his 0.55 SPG and 0.21 BPG career averages—hold their own against Ibañes’ 0.4 SPG and 0.3 BPG.
Here’s a breakdown:
Jun Marzan (386 games): 3.84 PPG, 1.50 RPG, 1.03 APG, 0.54 SPG, 0.21 BPG
Jireh Ibañes (426 games): 3.6 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 0.9 APG, 0.4 SPG, 0.3 BPG
While Ibañes was more versatile offensively, Marzan’s ability to guard multiple positions and rack up blocks gave him an edge in certain defensive matchups.
AWARDS
This is the kicker behind the verdict. Ibañes’ Defensive Player of the Year award in 2012, alongside multiple All-Defensive Team selections, puts him ahead in terms of individual honors. Marzan, despite his lack of individual awards, had a reputation that preceded him—a testament to the respect he commanded from players and coaches alike.
That said, it would have helped if Marzan managed to score at least one All-Defensive Team selection. While Marzan never got to deal with Glenn Capacio's All-Defensive Team stronghold with the latter's career slowly winding down, he had to deal with his teammate, Chris Jackson. From 1996 to Shell's disbandment, Stonewall Jackson stacked three Defensive of the Year awards and six All-Defensive Team selections. With only five slots in the All-Defensive Team and given how better Jackson was as compared to Marzan, you can't blame the voting committee for choosing the other Shell Turbo Charger.
For Ibañes, everything came into place. When he won the Defensive of the Year award, Rain or Shine just scored their first championship. Yeng Guiao was named Coach of the Year, Paul Lee was named Rookie of the Year and was part of the Mythical Second Team alongside Most Improved Player Jeff Chan, Terry Que and Raymond Yu were the Executives of the Year, and Jamelle Cornley just won the Best Import award. Also, I am not saying that back then, there was recency bias on the award because of Ibañes' timely bombs that finished off the B-MEG Llamados, but he got the award despite averaging just 4.2 points, 1.5 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.4 steals, and 0.4 blocks.
THE VERDICT
While both players excelled in their defensive roles, the winner comes down to consistency, accolades, and impact. Jireh Ibañes takes the crown for his sustained excellence, multiple defensive awards, and the ability to step up offensively when needed.
Jun Marzan, though a defensive legend in his own right, is remembered more as a situational stopper rather than a year-in, year-out defensive anchor. Ibañes, with his longevity and versatility, stands tall as the better defender of the two.
THE WINNER: JIREH IBANES
