Being independent is a good thing in every thing.
In today’s PBA, it can be hard for player to prove their worth if they land on either a San Miguel franchise or an MVP team because these squads are generally loaded with talent. This means playing behind all-stars, superstars, or veterans, with the chances of getting minutes slim to almost none.
This is why breaking free from the contenders can be a good thing—at least for some players. That is certainly the case for these five hoopers, whose careers took a turn for the better when they gained independence. so to speak.
Take a look:
Beau Belga, Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
When Belga was drafted in 2008 by then Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants (now Magnolia Hotshots), it was clear he wasn’t playing much with Kerby Raymundo and Marc Pingris, and later, Rommel Adducul, ahead of him. But the former PCU Dolphin ultimately found a home with the Yeng Guiao-helmed Rain or Shine franchise in 2011.
Belga blossomed in Rain or Shine, becoming one of the league’s best big man thanks to his toughness, physical play, and ability to hit from downtown. Now, over a decade since winning his independence, Belga continues to be among the league’s more reliable centers.
Juami Tiongson, Terrafirma Dyip
Tiongson started his career with an independent team, after the Blackwater Elite (now Bossing) picked him with the 12th overall pick in the 2014 PBA Draft. He began showing flashes of brilliance when he moved on to the NLEX Road Warriors, the MVP franchise that signed the former Ateneo Blue Eagle after he was bought out by Blackwater in 2016.
The 5-foot-10 guard, though, truly blossomed into a star when NLEX shipped him to another independent team, the Terrafirma Dyip, in 2020. In his three years playing for Terrafirma, Tiongson has seen his scoring rise from 13.4 points per game in 2020 to 18.1 markers last season.
Maverick Ahanmisi, Rain or Shine Elasto Painters/Converge FiberXers
In 2015, Guiao and Rain or Shine took a flyer on a then unknown Ahanmisi, picking him third overall in a draft that also included Chris Newsome and Scottie Thompson. Ahanmisi proved to be a gem of a find, averaging 8.7 points in his rookie season as an Elasto Painter and 10.9 markers in his last full year with the franchise.
The 6-foot-2 combo guard continued his solid play even after getting traded to the Alaska Aces (now Converge), where he has blossomed into one of the PBA’s premier guards. Last season, Ahanmisi averaged 13.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.2 steals. If he was in one of the stronger teams, he would have been relegated to a bench role.
Jerrick Balanza, NorthPort Batang Pier/Converge FiberXers
Balanza found himself with the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel franchise as the 13th pick overall of the 2019 PBA Draft. But between Ginebra’s guard-heavy lineup and Tim Cone’s reluctance to play young players, the former Letran Knight just wasn’t going to get meaningful minutes with the crowd darlings.
Getting traded to the independent Batang Pier was a godsend for Balanza, who finally got to some playing time to prove his worth at the pro ranks. Another trade to another independent team, the FiberXers, fully launched Balanza’s career, with the 6-foot-2 guard now one of coach Aldin Ayo’s most trusted snipers.
Rashawn McCarthy, Kia Picanto/Blackwater Bossing
McCarthy was drafted by the San Miguel Beermen in the 2016 PBA Draft. But, like Balanza, the 6-footer Fil-Am couldn’t get minutes in a loaded San Miguel squad that still had the fabled Death 5 back then.
He was traded a year later to the Kia Picanto (now Terrafirma), where McCarthy finally got unleashed. In his first two seasons with Kia, McCarthy averaged over 14 points and 5 rebounds a game before getting slowed down by injuries. Now with the Bossing, McCarthy continues to be a steady playmaker for a franchise looking to turn things around.
(GM)