After a brief hiatus, the PBA All-Star festivities are back on the calendar -- set to light up Candon, Ilocos Sur from March 6 to 8 before the Commissioner's Cup resumes on March 11.
The annual showcase promises the usual mix of spectacle and celebration but, as in years past, fan voting is once again expected to spark debate over who truly earned a spot.
Head coaches also have their imprint now, as they completed the reserves for both the North and South squads.
However, there are still deserving players that were left out of the two rosters. In light of that, we assess the players who deserved -- on merit -- to be called All-Stars
Note: This will not follow the rule of origin where players were born, and is just strictly the top ten players of the past conference.
Jerom Lastimosa (Magnolia Hotshots)
In the Philippine Cup, only two guards who played at least 25 minutes per game shot above 50% from the field: Scottie Thompson at 50.8% and Jerom Lastimosa at 51.5%.
For a sophomore guard, that level of efficiency stands out, especially considering how much of Lastimosa's offense comes from attacking the paint. He converted 58.4% of his attempts inside the arc, a sign that his speed, craft, and ability to finish through traffic are already translating well at the professional level.
The former Adamson Soaring Falcons guard also showed growth as a floor general, posting a 28.0 assist percentage according to RealGM while averaging 13.9 points per game. His blend of control, production and efficiency places him firmly among the league's more impactful backcourt players in this conference.
Who he should replace: Stephen Holt (Barangay Ginebra)
There's no denying the two-way impact Holt brings for crowd favorites Ginebra, but he isn't relied upon offensively the same way Lastimosa is with his on-ball creation. Even as a complementary option, his numbers are still not up even as not the main focus of the defense, which is at 40.1% from the field and 28.4% from beyond the arc.
Jordan Heading (TNT Tropang 5G)
It may not have been the best shooting conference by his standards, but Heading's value to TNT still showed through his movement and pull-up shooting. He averaged 15.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists while posting a solid 59.9 TS% -- providing steady perimeter scoring and spacing for the offense.
What remains clear in TNT's dribble-drive offense is that Heading serves as the team's ideal combo guard.
He can operate as a knockdown shooter off movement while also stepping in as a primary ball handler in pick-and-roll situations with developed chemistry with bigs like Kelly Williams and Henry Galinato, giving TNT another reliable creator in the backcourt.
Who he should replace: Rey Nambatac (TNT Tropang 5G)
Simply put, Heading has been the better version of Nambatac on the offensive end -- with better shooting gravity in terms of catch-and-shoot opportunities.
Jhonard Clarito (Rain or Shine Elasto Painters)
After winning the Most Improved Player award in the PBA's 48th season, Clarito continued his strong play and was arguably the most consistent performer for Rain or Shine in the recent Philippine Cup.
He averaged 13.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.1 steals per game on a 57.6 TS%. While the Elasto Painters struggled from three-point range as a team, Clarito stood out as the lone bright spot -- knocking down 41.4% from beyond the arc.
The 29-year-old forward also provides defensive versatility, capable of guarding the opposing team's top wings or even bigger forwards thanks to his physicality and high motor. His impact showed in the numbers as well, with Rain or Shine outscoring opponents by +12.5 points whenever he was on the floor.
Who should he replace: Leonard Santillan (Rain or Shine)
Santillan remains one of the league's better stretch bigs, shooting a respectable 33.9% from three on 5.2 attempts per game. However, inefficient free-throw shooting dragged his TS% down to 50.0, and his overall impact has been less positive -- reflected by a -3.7 on-court net rating for Rain or Shine.
Jason Perkins (Phoenix Fuel Masters)
Despite Phoenix lacking team success, Perkins' efficiency as a post scorer should not be overlooked.
In the past conference, the former DLSU Green Archers standout ranked eighth in the league in scoring with 18.4 points per game on a strong 59.4 TS% -- while also contributing 6.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists.
What makes his production more impressive is that it came with a reduced 24.5% usage rate for Phoenix.
Perkins not only carried a scoring load but also made a positive impact whenever he was on the floor, as the team was +4.8 points with him in the game -- a notable mark for a team that missed the playoffs
Who he should replace: Caelan Tiongson (Rain or Shine Elasto Painters)
The biggest gap between the two has been efficiency. Tiongson has struggled offensively, shooting just 33.3% from the field and 26% from three-point range. While he offers solid defensive value, it does not outweigh the overall offensive impact that Perkins consistently provides.
Ricci Rivero (Phoenix Fuel Masters)
There's a strong case that Rivero was the best per-minute scorer in the league during the Philippine Cup. In just 23.7 minutes per game, the slashing guard produced 16.0 points and 5.6 rebounds while knocking down a solid 34.2% from beyond the arc.
The leap in numbers became more impressive due to the offensive responsibility placed on him.
Rivero carried a heavy creation load for Phoenix, frequently attacking defenses in isolation and initiating offense, reflected in his 33.6% usage rate -- the second highest in the league.
Who he should replace: Jericho Cruz (San Miguel Beermen)
If there's a comparable case in terms of limited minutes, Cruz might be the closest. However, playing on a stacked San Miguel roster naturally caps his opportunities. As a result, his production of 9.5 points per game with a -2.0 on-court differential makes it difficult to justify an All-Star spot compared to Rivero's larger offensive impact.