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PBA Standings 2018: Complete Team Rankings and Playoff Scenarios Unveiled
2025-11-15 16:01
I still remember the buzz surrounding the 2018 PBA season like it was yesterday. The air was thick with anticipation, not just for the games themselves, but for the final standings and the intricate playoff picture they would paint. As someone who has followed the league for over a decade, I've seen various formats come and go, but the 2018 season's structure was particularly fascinating, even if it was often misunderstood. The league touted a 'tiered, merit-based structure,' a phrase that, frankly, left many fans and even some analysts scratching their heads. The official statements never quite clarified what that meant in practical terms, creating a cloud of speculation that hung over the entire season. It was this very ambiguity that made the final stretch so compelling; we were all trying to crack the code of how teams would ultimately be seeded and who would get those coveted playoff berths.
Let's dive into the final standings, because they tell a story of dominance, surprise, and heartbreak. At the top of the heap, and this is no surprise to anyone who watched them play, were the San Miguel Beermen. They finished with a stellar record of 9 wins and only 2 losses, a .818 winning percentage that was just a cut above everyone else. Their offense was a well-oiled machine, averaging around 108 points per game, and June Mar Fajardo was, well, June Mar Fajardo—an unstoppable force in the paint. Right behind them, the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel gave their legion of fans plenty to cheer about, securing the second spot with an 8-3 record. The chemistry between LA Tenorio and Japeth Aguilar was a thing of beauty, and you could feel the energy in every game they played. I have to admit, I'm a bit biased towards teams with a strong home-court advantage, and Ginebra's crowd is arguably the best in the league, which I believe gave them an extra two or three wins throughout the season.
The middle of the pack was where things got really messy and where that 'tiered, merit-based' concept supposedly came into play, though its application remained opaque. The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and the Magnolia Hotshots found themselves locked in a tight battle for the third and fourth spots, both ending with identical 7-4 records. The tie-breaker scenarios were a nightmare to calculate, but from what I recall, it came down to points differential, with Rain or Shine edging it out by a narrow margin of maybe +5.5. This was crucial because securing a top-four spot meant avoiding the dreaded quarterfinal knockout round. Below them, the Alaska Aces and the TNT KaTropa were jostling for position. Alaska, with a 6-5 record, had a solid but unspectacular season, while TNT at 5-6 was a team that always felt like they were on the verge of breaking out but could never quite string together a consistent run. I personally thought they underachieved, given the talent they had on paper with players like Jayson Castro.
Now, the real drama unfolded in the lower tier. The Phoenix Fuel Masters finished at 4-7, a record that doesn't look great but they were a pesky team to play against. Then you had the NLEX Road Warriors and the Blackwater Elite, both struggling to find their footing with 3-8 records. It was tough to watch Blackwater, in particular; they showed flashes of brilliance but couldn't sustain it, and I think their coaching carousel that year really hurt their development. Bringing up the rear were the Meralco Bolts and the GlobalPort Batang Pier, with dismal 2-9 records. It was a long season for their fans, and you have to wonder about the long-term plans for franchises that finish so far off the pace. The disparity between the top and the bottom was stark, and in my view, it highlighted a flaw in the league's competitive balance, something the 'merit-based' structure was supposed to address but seemingly didn't.
Unveiling the playoff scenarios was like piecing together a complex puzzle. With the tiered system, the top four teams were rewarded with a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals. This meant that San Miguel, Ginebra, Rain or Shine, and Magnolia only needed to win one game to advance, while their opponents from the lower half needed to beat them twice. It was a massive advantage, and I've always been a fan of this format as it truly rewards regular season performance. The matchups were mouth-watering. San Miguel was poised to face the winner of the knockout game between, let's say, Alaska and Phoenix. Ginebra was set for a blockbuster clash with TNT, a matchup that always delivers high drama. The possibility of a San Miguel vs. Ginebra finals was on everyone's mind, and frankly, that's the matchup most neutral fans, including myself, were hoping for. It's the kind of rivalry that sells out arenas and captures the nation's attention.
Reflecting on it now, the 2018 PBA standings were more than just a list of wins and losses; they were a narrative of a season defined by its structure. The 'tiered, merit-based' system, for all its lack of clarity, did create distinct tiers of competition and made the fight for a top-four spot incredibly intense. It emphasized the importance of every single game in the eliminations. While I believe the league could have done a much better job explaining the nuances, the system itself produced a thrilling conclusion and set the stage for a memorable playoff run. The final rankings were a testament to which teams could navigate the uncertainties of the format and consistently perform at a high level. It was a season that reminded us why we love sports—the unpredictability, the strategy, and the sheer passion on display from the first tip-off to the final buzzer.
Heather Bolton Suber ’02
Leah Schnell ’01
Sarah Grimes Wiggins ’93
Dr. Ralph Swearngin
Point University will induct four members into the Athletics Hall of Fame during a luncheon on Friday, October 24, during Homecoming weekend.
The class of 2025 includes Leah Schnell ’01, Heather Bolton Suber ’02, Dr. Ralph Swearngin and Sarah Grimes Wiggins ’93. The Athletics Hall of Fame was launched in May 2024, when six inaugural members were inducted.
“We look forward to honoring the second Hall of Fame class during Homecoming,” said Jaunelle White, vice president of intercollegiate athletics and chief student development officer. “It’s always a great feeling to have our alumni back on campus mingling with our current student-athletes and coaches. These individuals were elite during their time at Atlanta Christian College and deserve to be recognized.”
Schnell attended Atlanta Christian College from 1998 to 2001, where she earned a degree in business while competing in both basketball and volleyball. On the basketball court, she earned First Team All-Conference, Scholar Athlete, and First Team All-American honors for three consecutive years. Schnell also held the title of all-time leading scorer from 1998-2001. She now thrives as a commercial construction project manager at Barnsley Construction Group and as an entrepreneur.
Suber, from Havana, Florida, attended ACC from 1998 to 2002. A dedicated two-sport athlete, she earned numerous accolades, including First Team All-Conference, Second Team All-Conference, Honorable Mention and First Team All-American. One of her most memorable achievements came when she made eleven three-pointers in a single game. Suber graduated with a degree in early childhood education and went on to earn a master’s degree in education and a specialist degree in instructional technology. For over 23 years, she has served as an educator.
Swearngin has had a distinguished career in education, athletics and ministry spanning several decades, including 20 years at ACC in roles such as professor, dean of students, athletics director and coach. He held national leadership positions with the NCCAA, served as a trustee of Point University for over 10 years, and worked extensively in ministry and education in California, earning degrees from Whittier College and Georgia State University. His athletic involvement includes 23 years as a high school football official in California and Georgia, 22 years with the Georgia High School Association — retiring as executive director in 2014 — and service on national football and softball rules committees. Honored with multiple Hall of Fame inductions and the Atlanta Falcons Lifetime Achievement Award, Swearngin has authored two books and remains active in retirement through preaching and leading Bible studies, alongside his wife of 58 years, Evelyn.
Wiggins grew up in Roswell, Georgia, where she began playing basketball at the age of ten. After two years at Florida State University, she transferred to ACC in 1990. While at ACC, Wiggins was named to the All-American team in both 1991 and 1992. In her final year, she led her team in scoring, helping them finish second in the nation, and was named national MVP in 1992. She earned a bachelor of science in elementary education in 1993 and later received a master’s degree in technology and media sciences from Georgia Southern University in 2009. For the past 33 years, Wiggins has worked as a dedicated educator. In 1997, she married Todd Wiggins. Together, they have two children, Preston, 26, and Logan, 22.
