soccer games today

Watching that FIBA U16 Asia Cup game between Gilas Pilipinas Youth and Chinese-Taipei last Sunday left me with a strange mix of frustration and fascination. The final scoreline—106-82 in favor of Chinese-Taipei—was brutal, a 24-point beating that felt even more lopsided when you actually watched the game unfold in Ulanbataar. As someone who's followed Philippine basketball for over a decade, I've seen our youth teams struggle before, but this particular loss got me thinking about a much bigger question that Filipino basketball fans debate endlessly in bars and online forums: Who is the best player in PBA right now?

The truth is, our national team's performance often reflects the state of our professional league. When our youth teams struggle against regional opponents like Chinese-Taipei, it forces us to examine the players we hold up as the standard in the PBA. That 106-82 beating wasn't just about missed shots or defensive lapses—it was a reminder that the gap between our basketball program and others in Asia might be widening, which makes identifying and celebrating our genuine superstars even more crucial. I've always believed that the true measure of a great player isn't just their statistics but their ability to elevate those around them, something our young Gilas squad clearly lacked in Mongolia.

Let's dive into that perennial debate about who truly deserves the title of best player in PBA today. If you ask me, this isn't just about who scores the most points or has the flashiest highlights—it's about consistent impact, leadership, and that intangible quality that changes games. I've been watching June Mar Fajardo for years, and while his six MVP awards speak for themselves, what impresses me most is how he's adapted his game as he's gotten older. The man is averaging around 16.8 points and 12.4 rebounds this conference, but those numbers don't capture how he commands double and triple teams every single night, creating opportunities for everyone else on the floor.

Then there's Scottie Thompson, whose energy reminds me of why I fell in love with basketball in the first place. His stat line might not always jump off the page—maybe 13 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists on a good night—but watch him chase a loose ball in the fourth quarter of a close game and you'll understand his value. I remember specifically a game last month where he grabbed three offensive rebounds in a single possession before finally scoring, completely breaking the opposing team's spirit. That kind of relentless effort is what separates good players from great ones.

What about the younger stars? Well, I've got to admit I'm particularly high on Jamie Malonzo right now. His athleticism is just different—the kind that you can't teach. He's putting up roughly 18 points per game while often guarding the opponent's best player, and at 26, he represents the future of Philippine basketball. But consistency remains his challenge, something that separates the contenders from the true best player in PBA discussion. One night he'll drop 25 points with highlight-reel dunks, and the next he might disappear for stretches. The great ones bring it every single night.

The Gilas Youth's 106-82 loss to Chinese-Taipei actually illustrates why this debate matters beyond just fan discussions. When our development pipeline isn't producing players who can compete at the international level, we need our PBA stars to set the standard for what Philippine basketball excellence looks like. Watching our young team struggle defensively against basic pick-and-roll actions made me appreciate the defensive IQ of someone like CJ Perez, who averages about 2.1 steals per game by reading passing lanes that most players don't even see.

I had a conversation with a former PBA coach recently who told me something that stuck with me: "The best player in PBA isn't necessarily the most talented—it's the one who makes his team win when it matters most." That's why in crucial moments, I'd want the ball in Jayson Castro's hands even now, despite him being in the twilight of his career. His basketball IQ is just on another level, and he's proven time and again that he can deliver when games are on the line.

At the end of the day, my personal vote for best player in PBA right now goes to June Mar Fajardo, but it's much closer than many people think. What makes the PBA special is that we have multiple players who could make legitimate claims to that title depending on what you value most. As that disappointing 106-82 Gilas Youth loss showed us, we need these debates—they keep our standards high and push our players to be better. The day we stop arguing about who the best really is might be the day Philippine basketball has truly lost its way.