Let’s take a quick trip down memory lane.
The Second Conference of the PBA 3x3 is in full swing. Since its inception in 2021, it has showcased a handful of underrated talent.
Those who struggled to find major minutes in the PBA have found a home in 3x3, most notably Almond Vosotros, who has led the TNT Triple Giga to five straight titles. Some, meanwhile, found a roster spot in the PBA after flourishing in 3x3, including incoming rookies Kim Aurin and Ralph Cu.
All the hype surrounding the PBA 3x3 got us thinking: Who were the best trios in recent PBA history?
If there was a PBA 3x3 back in the day and teams were required to field marquee players, these three-player crews would've definitely torched the league.
Gary David, JVee Casio, and Marcio Lassiter - Powerade Tigers
Theirs was a short-lived trio but a memorable one. David, Casio, and Lassiter steered Powerade to the 2011-2012 Philippine Cup finals, highlighted by their upset of the powerhouse B-Meg Llamados in the quarterfinals.
The three snipers could shoot from anywhere, and they shot the lights out almost every game. Their high-octane style fueled the Tigers, with opponents finding it hard to defend when David, Casio, and Lassiter were alternating from long range.
Jimmy Alapag, Jayson Castro, and Ranidel de Ocampo - Talk ’N Text Tropang Texters
Who could forget Alapag, Castro, and Ranidel de Ocampo, who were all part of the Gilas Pilipinas squad that put the Philippines back on the world basketball map?
But these three are household names not only because of their exploits for the national team. Together, they almost won a grand slam in the 2010-2011 season under coach Chot Reyes. It was a testament to how dominant they were during their peak years. Their longevity too was something to marvel at.
James Yap, PJ Simon, and Marc Pingris - San Mig Coffee Mixers
A grand slam. Four straight championships. Need I say more? The trio of Yap, Simon, and Pingris flourished under the tutelage of legendary mentor Tim Cone and won the aforementioned trophies. They were quite unstoppable during their run.
To put their greatness into perspective: Since the disbandment of Big Game James, The Scoring Apostle, and Pinoy Sakuragi, the Purefoods franchise has only won a single championship.
ALSO READ: One-two punch: 10 prolific duos the PBA has seen
Danny Ildefonso, Danny Seigle, and Olsen Racela - San Miguel Beermen
Before the time of June Mar Fajardo, Arwind Santos, and Alex Cabagnot with the Beermen, there was the big three era of Danny Ildefonso, Danny Seigle, and Olsen Racela.
They were the team to beat at the turn of the century. From 1999 to 2001, the trio led San Miguel to five titles.
While they remained a fearsome crew in the years that followed, injuries to Seigle, among other things, derailed their could-be conquests. Still, many consider their time as the peak years of the Beermen.
Mark Caguioa, Jayjay Helterbrand, and Eric Menk - Barangay Ginebra Kings
Caguioa, Helterbrand, and Menk formed the core of the Barangay Ginera squad that fans came to love in the post-Robert Jaworski era. They almost instantly earned the adoration of the legion of supporters of the most popular team in the PBA.
When Major Pain joined forces with the Fast and the Furious in 2001, they strung together four championships, the last one coming in 2008. The gung-ho style of Caguioa and Helterbrand perfectly complemented Menk's inside tenacity. Each one of them became an MVP as well.