I came out with a similar article for the defunct FHM.com.ph, believe it or not, on this date two years ago, April 03, 2018. Call it coincidence but it triggered me to post this article as my version of ESPN5's list. Note the similarities, but there was one pair that was left out in her list while she had her own that I didn't include.
Here's my version (ranked from lowest to highest):
*note that this article was written two years ago
7. Alex Cabagnot – Chris Ross (San Miguel)
Number of Titles Together: 5
Together From: 2013 – present
This is the only pair that is active today, and they’re bound to go up further in the rankings if they continue to produce titles together. Alex Cabagnot and Chris Ross seemed like an unlikely duo when Ross was shipped by Global Port to the then Petron Blaze Boosters vice Denok Miranda. But the partnership bloomed under Coach Leo Austria, making them one of the best two-way backcourt tandems in the PBA. Cabagnot developed his defensive game further while Ross improved his offense significantly, making them a pesky and extremely dangerous backcourt combo. The pair are still good for a couple of seasons and who knows, an SMB grandslam this season may put this lethal tandem in the Top 3.
Photo c/o Inquirer Sports
6. Jimmy Alapag – Jayson Castro (Talk N’ Text)
Number of Titles Together: 6
Together From: 2008 - 2015
Jay Washington was becoming a future superstar for the TNT Tropang Texters after earning a Mythical First Team recognition in 2007. Fans wondered when then TNT coach Chot Reyes shipped J-Wash to San Miguel for the rights to the latter’s 2008 3rd overall pick, using this to draft Jayson Castro. At that time, the Texters had Jimmy Alapag, Ren Ren Ritualo and Mark Cardona and Castro, who didn’t have a reliable outside jumper and was purely a slasher then, may have become a wasted pick. But with Alapag serving as mentor, the collaboration produced six titles together. Reyes oftentimes used the pair, despite being severely handicapped in length, during crunch time and most of the time, delivered in the clutch. In the Philippine and Commissioner’s Cup in 2011, the pair shared Finals MVP honors, a testament to the solid partnership that spilled over to the Gilas national team.
Photo courtesy of Rappler
5. Jayjay Helterbrand – Mark Caguioa (Barangay Ginebra)
Number of Titles Together: 6
Together From: 2001 – 2017
The Ginebra franchise was never wanting when it comes to quality guards, with no less than Robert Jaworski, Sr. being the biggest name. But they struggled a bit when the Big J ran for the Senate in 1998, leaving only Bal David as their reliable small guy. Team consultant Ron Jacobs brought in Jayjay Helterbrand after playing one MBA game with the Batangas Blades in 2000, then completed the puzzle by drafting a then unknown Mark Caguioa the year after. Almost instantly, Ginebra became a championship contender, cracking the Finals in the duo’s first conference together, losing the All Filipino to San Miguel, 4-2. The Fast (Helterbrand) and the Furious (Caguioa) formed one of the most exciting pairs in the PBA with their ability to score in transition and produce points as quick as they move.
Photo c/o ABS-CBN Sports
4. Hector Calma – Samboy Lim (San Miguel)
Number of Titles Together: 9
Together From: 1986 – 1994
It’s not difficult to understand why Calma and Lim became a very successful pair in the PBA. Before collaborating to win 9 titles for the Beermen, they already won one title in the 1985 Open Conference, playing for the guest national team. Couple that with their national team success in the 1985 Jones Cup and the 1985 Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC), Coach Norman Black never had it so easy. Except for Lim’s frequent injuries, it was almost impossible to stop the two when they were in the court together. Calma would bring down the ball in transition and feed Lim at the perfect time for a dunk or an easy lay-in, or when the Beermen set it up, the Director would almost always find the Skywalker open for an easy twinner from either the long court or inside the paint. While the Beermen also had reliable backcourt players like Ricardo Brown, Ato Agustin and later, Allan Caidic, it was the Calma-Lim combo that represented the face of the backcourt of the franchise, especially during the late 80’s and early 90’s.
Photo c/o GMA Network News
3. Johnny Abarrientos – Jojo Lastimosa (Alaska / Pop Cola)
Number of Titles Together: 9
Together From: 1993 – 2002
Johnny Abarrientos turned out to be the most important piece in the Alaska grandslam puzzle, and yet, he couldn’t have done it without his backcourt partner, Jojo Lastimosa, and his clutch ways. Alaska’s first PBA title happened in the 1991 Third Conference with Jolas already there after a celebrated trade with Purefoods for Elmer Cabahug. When the Flying A came in, the backcourt duo won 9 more titles for the franchise, including 8 of 12 conferences at stake from 1994 to 1998. They cemented their collaborative greatness by being selected in the Mythical First team in 1996 and 1998 and were part of the 1998 Centennial Team that played in the Bangkok Asian Games. Both won separate Finals MVP honors in 1996 and made the Aces the undisputed team of the 90’s. Coach Tim Cone didn’t have to worry during crunch time, as he had either Johnny or Jolas willing to take the last shot…and convert this.
Photo c/o All-Time PBA Greats FB page
2. Bernie Fabiosa – Atoy Co (Crispa / Great Taste)
Number of Titles Together: 13
Together From: 1975 – 1984 (Crispa) and 1987 (Great Taste)
They are the winningest backcourt tandem of all time, sharing 13 championships with the fabled Crispa Redmanizers from 1975 to 1984. It’s easy enough to pencil them at the top, but Crispa’s roster was so talented that they remained top contenders even if any one of them was in the injured list. But there’s no denying how phenomenal this pair was when playing together. Fabiosa was Crispa’s best passer, and Co was the best recipient. The Redmanizers didn’t need to consume the then 25-second shot clock as Fabiosa would easily find Co for an open jumper or would make a pass to Co and slash the paint for their patented give and go. It was not uncommon to see TJ (for Tough Job as christened by the late Penggoy Pengson) Fabiosa and the Fortune Cookie spearhead the break with Fabiosa speeding down the court and Co at the flanks. They shared one more title with the Great Taste Coffeemakers in the 1987 All Filipino before hanging up their sneakers in 1988 (Co) and 1991 (Fabiosa).
Photos c/o All-Time Crispa Redmanizers FB page
1. Robert Jaworski, Sr. – Francis Arnaiz (Toyota / Ginebra)
Number of Titles Together: 9
Together From: 1975 – 1986
One will be hard-pressed to find anyone toppling the Jaworski-Arnaiz tandem at the top of the heap - even in the years to come - when they’ve been called Batman and Robin, the Dynamic Duo, and several superlatives that showcased their worth as the greatest PBA backcourt pair of all time. This collaboration started when they were still playing for the Meralco Reddykilowatts team in the MICAA, transitioning to the Komatsu Comets, Toyota and finally with Gilbey’s Gin / Ginebra. Together, they were responsible for transforming the franchise to perennial title contenders starting in 1984 and the most popular PBA franchise ever starting 1985. There was no pair that knew each other both inside and outside the court better than the two - Jaworski being the best passer ever in the PBA transforming the assist into an art and Arnaiz consummating with the all-important points, even without looking at each other. The two have remained as popular as evidenced by Arnaiz, who’s based in Sacramento, watching a recent Ginebra game with the Big J and receiving one of the heartiest applauses ever given to any pair of PBA legends.
Photo c/o Toyota Tamaraws FB page
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