Three teams still hold identical records in Week 3 of the 2023 PBA Governors' Cup, but this time it's TNT seizing one of the 5-1 cards -- and the top spot in our new Power Rankings -- following two strong wins over the past five days. Meanwhile, Magnolia appears to be on the way up and looks like a different squad after sweeping both games with a new import. Here's Sid Ventura and Eros Villanueva with the latest rankings for all 12 teams.
1. TNT Tropang Giga (5-1)
Previous rank: 4th
TNT is now riding the momentum of a three-game win streak since a stunning two-point loss to NLEX nine days ago. Between Jalen Hudson putting together a couple of electric bounce-back games (56 points against Converge, 36 points against Terrafirma) and Roger Pogoy maintaining his fine form from last conference, the Tropang Giga look like they're in prime position to secure a playoff spot early. Mikey Williams, who had a tepid start in the first four games (12.7 points on 32.7/26.7/55.6 shooting) looks like he's slowly getting his rhythm back, too, and that only bodes well for a TNT squad looking to pad their record during a busy slate before a lengthy break. -- Villanueva
Up next: Blackwater (Feb. 15), Meralco (Feb. 17), San Miguel (Feb. 19)
2. Magnolia Hotshots (2-3)
Previous rank: 10th
The Hotshots were one of six teams that decided to tap a new import, and it looks like they made the right choice by bringing in former Terrafirma Antonio Hester. Magnolia has won two straight with Hester, including a 30-point rout of Barangay Ginebra in a major statement win. Ian Sangalang is still sidelined with an illness, but Mark Barroca has been on a tear, averaging 20.0 points in the Hotshots' two Week 3 wins. Magnolia is also passing the ball better, averaging 28.0 assists in Week 3 compared to just 19.7 in their three losses. -- Ventura
Up next: NLEX (Feb. 16)
3. Converge FiberXers (5-1)
Previous rank: 3rd
Allowing TNT's Hudson to drop 56 in a narrow loss wasn't an ideal start to the week, but Converge masterfully recovered on Saturday by dealing the San Miguel Beermen their first loss of the conference. Beating SMB is one thing, holding June Mar Fajardo to just seven points, severely limiting his touches, and forcing him to foul out is another win it itself. Its further proof that the FiberXers -- second in offensive rating (118.3), fourth in offensive rating (108.4) -- are capable of crafting solutions to get them over the hump. Having Aljun Melecio (calf) back should put Converge in an even better position to kick into high gear in the second half of the eliminations. -- Villanueva
Up next: NLEX (Feb. 18)
4. San Miguel Beermen (5-1)
Previous rank: 1st
The Beermen finally tasted defeat this conference after a 107-103 loss to Converge in a game where Fajardo was limited to just seven points on four shots. But it says a lot about SMB's firepower that even with their prized center struggling on offense, they still came close to staying unbeaten against a real contender. The real grind comes in Week 4, though, with three games in five days including back-to-back match-ups against Barangay Ginebra and TNT. -- Ventura
Up next: NorthPort (Feb. 15), Barangay Ginebra (Feb. 17), TNT (Feb. 19)
5. Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (3-1)
Previous rank: 6th
Did fatigue finally catch up with the Ginebra? A killer Week 3 schedule of three games in five days ended with a lopsided Manila Clasico loss to Magnolia as the Kings dropped to 3-1. Granted, they were without the injured Japeth Aguilar for two of those games, but they were just run off the court by the Hotshots in a listless performance. Ginebra will welcome a five-day break coming their way, but with the San Miguel Beermen up next, they better regroup quickly. -- Ventura
Up next: San Miguel (Feb. 17), Blackwater (Feb. 19)
6. NLEX Road Warriors (4-1)
Previous rank: 2nd
The Road Warriors have to be frustrated with the way they lost their lone assignment of Week 3 to Barangay Ginebra, squandering a 12-point lead early in the fourth quarter and getting outscored 26-11 over the final eight minutes to sustain their first loss of the conference. On the bright side: Wayne Selden (43 points, seven rebounds, seven assists) fits the bill of an import that could carry an offense that has posted the fourth-best rating (117.8 points per 100 possessions) even with Road Warriors shooting under 32% from deep for the third straight conference. Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser (13.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.0 blocks) has also been superb, providing stout rim protection for an NLEX team that badly needs it while basically making everything from inside the restricted area (76.9%). -- Villanueva
Up next: Magnolia (Feb. 16), Converge (Feb. 18)
7. Meralco Bolts (3-2)
Previous rank: 5th
Meralco is elite on one side of the floor and middling on the other end, which raises questions about their ability to hold up under greater pressure in the playoffs. A loss to San Miguel in their lone game of the week encapsulates some of their problems; the Bolts were able to hold the vaunted Beermen engine to just 94 points, but their own offense simply didn't have enough juice (86 points, 34.5% shooting) to take advantage. The likes of Aaron Black, Bong Quinto, Anjo Caram, and Raymond Almazan should see better days on that side of the court as the conference goes along, but even then, it doesn't seem like Meralco has enough firepower to supplement KJ McDaniels, Allein Maliksi, and Chris Newsome. A silver lining: Cliff Hodge's elite defense, especially on imports, should keep them afloat until they figure out a fix. -- Villanueva
Up next: TNT (Feb. 17)
8. Terrafirma Dyip (2-3)
Previous rank: 7th
The Dyip went 1-1 in Week 3, with Jordan Williams torching Blackwater to the tune of 57 points in a 13-point win before the Tropang Giga handed them a 22-point beatdown. Still, the Dyip have already doubled their win total from the Commissioner's Cup, and Juami Tiongson continues to have a stellar conference with a 22.6 PPG average fueled by an impressive .486 clip from beyond the arc. Another bit of good news: Terrafirma has the fewest turnovers per game (11.2) among all 12 teams. -- Ventura
Up next: Rain or Shine (Feb. 16), Phoenix (Feb. 18)
9. Phoenix Fuel Masters (1-5)
Previous rank: 8th
The Fuel Masters are more of a team for the future rather than a team that's going to be good in the short-term. Under new head coach Jamike Jarin, who's tasked to steward a roster far removed from its potential as a title contender, Phoenix has been going through growing pains. Beyond the ever consistent Jason Perkins (18.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 60.4 true shooting or TS%) and Du'Vaughn Maxwell, who managed just 11 points on seven shots in a loss to Magnolia this week, Phoenix at this moment isn't potent enough to overturn a negative point differential (minus-6 net rating through five games, fifth-worst). Javee Mocon's (bone spurs) return and Tyler Tio snapping out of his funk should aid the Fuel Masters, but unless they could replicate last conference's sudden outburst, an early end to the season looms. -- Villanueva
Up next: Terrafirma (Feb. 18)
10. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (1-4)
Previous rank: 11th
After sending Michael Qualls home and replacing him with Greg Smith II, the Elasto Painters finally barged into the win column with a 122-117 decision over Blackwater in their lone Week 3 appearance. Smith had 38 in his PBA debut, and Rain or Shine got an unexpected offensive contribution from seldom-used Nic Demusis, who scored a career-high 12 points against the Bossing. Rain or Shine still need to address their porous defense, which is giving up 111.0 PPG, placing them in the bottom third of the standings in that department. -- Ventura
Up next: Terrafirma (Feb. 16)
11. Blackwater Bossing (1-5)
Previous rank: 9th
Troy Williams came out of the gates firing and dropped 47.5 points in his first two games but still failed to turn things around for the Bossing. Blackwater has now lost four straight -- including a disappointing loss to Rain or Shine on Sunday where they led by as many as 10 early in the fourth. He and Renato Ular (8.5 points, 12.5 rebounds in Week 3) will continue to do all they can, but Blackwater (11th in offensive and defensive rating) simply have way more problems than solutions for the time being. There's a decent-to-good team somewhere in the future, but it doesn't seem like it's about to manifest itself with five games left on the docket. -- Villanueva
Up next: TNT (Feb. 15), Barangay Ginebra (Feb. 19)
12. NorthPort Batang Pier (0-5)
Previous rank: 12th
Not even the return of Robert Bolick and a new import could help the Batang Pier from moving out of the cellar as they're now the only winless team left. Bolick finally played his first game in the Governors' Cup and looked sharp with 30 points, while new reinforcement Kevin Murphy was also impressive with 38. The duo's performance wasn't enough to prevent NorthPort from dropping its fifth straight game, a 15-point rout at the hands of Barangay Ginebra, in their only Week 3 game. The rest of the team managed just 32 points combined, and unless this figure improves, the Batang Pier will be headed to an early offseason. -- Ventura
Up next: San Miguel Beermen (Feb. 15)