Winners and Losers in the 2013 PBA Draft

Last Sunday, the PBA held its annual Draft at Robinson’s Place Ermita. Usually, a draft is set up for poorer teams to grab talent that can turn things around for their franchise. But that only happens in the NBA. Here? Oh, it was littered by lopsided trades even before the event began. Yes, I am shooting and kicking Barako Bull even if they are down.

See, Barako Bull was built well by George Chua back when he was still alive. They had Willie Miller, Kerby Raymundo, Jimwell Torion, Junthy Valenzuela and Mick Pennisi back then. Then Larry Fonacier jumped aboard with Rico Villanueva, Cyrus Baguio and Leo Najorda. Then they had nasty reinforcements in James Penny and Tony Lang. Man, those were bad, bad boys, with Rico flipping his jersey in your face one dunk after another. But now? May you rest in peace Mr. Chua, but I know you are stirring in your grave as the current management has decided to be SMC’s shoe-lickers. Barako is destroyed. It’s nothing but a farm team masquerading as a professional team.

They had three first-round picks to build upon Emman Monfort, who got traded, and wait for a rejuvenated Rico Villanueva, who got traded as well. What happened? Well, they chose to stick to their motto of CONDUITy. It sucks. I wish I could’ve said more, but that is for another piece. We have a draft to grade.

Alaska Aces

Who they got: Ryan Buenafe, Ping Exciminiano, Raymund Ilagan

My undervalued two cents:

Alaska got guts to select Ryan Buenafe this early. Personally, I would’ve tabbed him in the second round given the red flags on conditioning. Salva would’ve been the no-brainer pick considering he can hit Js from the pinch post for like, forever, in that triangle scheme. But hey, I’m no Salvation Army member, I’m a BuenaFAN. Fats and extra poundage and all.

But when I saw this guy come up on stage, man, that ain’t the Buenafe I used to cheer my heart out for Ateneo. He has superbly slimmed down and looks ready to go and prove his doubters wrong out there. With this pick, this closet Purefoods (yes, don’t call it San Mig please) fan is set to come back to the Alaska fold since Sean Chambers last wore his Alaska jersey. But to basketball matters, here’s what Buenafe brings: point-forward skills, ability to take the hit and still finish (this guy can triple-pump and still score guys), he’s clutch, probably the highest basketball IQ, and most importantly, that swagger, and he’s Luigi Trillo’s Scottie Pippen sans the lockdown defense. With their second round pick Ping Exciminiano, Alaska is on a rambulan movement. The guys they have tabbed, along with ROY Calvin Abueva, will drive anyone nuts.

Also, imagine this, with all the chips down and the clock in its dying seconds and the rook is in the game, who do you cover? JV Casio, Cyrus Baguio, or Ryan Buenafe? Personally, I wouldn’t want to be the Carl Bryan Cruz who got shot in the mug by Buenafe back in 2010.

I want an Alaska jersey with Ryan Buenafe’s name on the back please! The Legend of the #AirLiempo is about to unfold.

Grade: A+

Air21 Express

Who they got: Eric Camson, Joshua Webb, Angelo Ingco, Randolph Chua

My undervalued two cents:

The only pick that matters here is Eric Camson. Here’s a big guy who can play midrange and is continually improving. However, he needs to work dirty inside for the Express. Imagine if he and Rabeh click, then we’re in for a great season! And in Franz Pumaren’s desire to rebuild his De La Salle team, he picked Joshua Webb who he let rot in DLSU’s bench back in the days (which I love to always pick on). Si Ryan Arana, JVee Casio at Manny Ramos na lang! Paki-activate na si Adonis Sta. Maria.

Grade: C

Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings

Who they got: Greg Slaughter, James Forrester, LA Revilla, John Usita, Alvin Padilla, Jens Knuttel

My undervalued two cents:

Greg Slaughter is a no-brainer. There’s no chance in hell you would pass up on a 7-footer who can play basketball and is not EJ Feihl. Even in the NBA, you don’t do that. Like I said on Twitter, what every team in the PBA needs is this: get someone who can slow down JuneMar Fajardo for you can only pray that he has an off night. Well, you can just pray, plain and simple. So Ginebra gets a solid building block for their future and have a PG (LA and Emman) to put the leather in the big fella’s hands.

What intrigues me is that they used the fourth pick to grab James Forrester. This guy can flat-out ball. But thing is, I don’t see a motor. Or fire. He’s like a James Harden on the floor, just chill and smooth. I can only hope Mark Caguioa can give his will and fire to this kid. If he does, think Calvin Abueva, but with more ways to make you look bad and eventually end up on a poster. That’s how good this guy can be.

I don’t pretty much regard the Revilla, Padilla and Knuttel picks. They are better served on an expansion team and will just rot in BGK’s bench. John Usita, however, is a different story. If he develops some game and not just be Billy Mamaril ver 2.0, then BGK is going to be damn scary.

Grade: B+

Barako Bull Energy Cola

Who they got: Carlo Lastimosa, Jeric Fortuna, Darwin Cordero, Jett Vidal, Mike Silungan

My undervalued two cents:

Do I have to? I mean it with all sincerity. Why? Because, we all know, and I will bet my house, that once either of the five garner some following or score somewhere in the 9s and 10s a game, they’re all going to be traded to either Petron, Baranggay Ginebra and San Mig Coffee. That would make our dear friend Frosty Cristy Fermin and Tatang very, very happy to work with the rumors that they all want. You can throw in Diane Castillejo to make it livelier and also so she can see which of the five wore his jersey the best.

Oh, and they gave away three (THREE!) first-picks too in case you forget.

Poor George Chua. We miss you greatly sir.

Grade: F3

GlobalPort Batang Pier

Who they got: RR Garcia, Terrence Romeo, Nico Salva, Isaac Holstein, Jopher Custodio

My undervalued two cents:

The moment they selected RR Garcia right after Terrence Romeo, make no mistake, I was laughing, rolling hard on the floor. I mean, how unlucky can you get RR? And then came the Salva pick. Boy was I fired up!

So it will be a Bromance and a nasty one at that. Terrence-RR-Sol-Nico. Dun pa lang, apat na bola na agad kelangan ng BroBal Port! We haven’t even factored in Jay Washington, who has seen resurgence in his career (thanks Arwind for nearly killing it, before he stole the MVP). Anyway, this will be fun. Will the ball even move? Can we just call ‘em Lacoste Gators? Sorry I can’t help it. I am not a fan of Nico Salva either.

Isaac Holstein would definitely see minutes more than Kelly “Sabong” Nabong. You can’t teach height and this dude does not only have it but also the skills to be called legit. He’s a human windmill in the D-League but I’m pretty sure the Kraken will have a slam or three to say about that.

Either way, Salva, Washington, Nabong, Mercado, Romeo and Garcia on the same team folks. Why do I have the feeling someone is going to get Balkman-ed when he doesn’t give up the ball?

Rambulan na, Bro???

Grade: A

Meralco Bolts

Who they got: Anjo Caram, Mike Parala, Mark Lopez, John Gonzales, Mark Bringas

My undervalued two cents:

I don’t know what to make of this. They gave away Chris Ross who was great running their offense. Now, they have Chris Timberlake and Mike Cortez. They did get Kerby Raymundo who will be reunited with Coach RG and re-discover his mojo. In the process, he can teach promising bigs like Lopez and Parala the ropes. The Bolts didn’t wow enough in this Draft wanting instead to go for needs rather than wants.

Grade: C+

Petron Blaze Boosters

Who they got: Joseph Marata, Nate Matute

My undervalued two cents:

Marata should’ve stayed in the D-League, where he’ll eventually end up in a team that has Marcio Lassiter and Chris Lutz ALTERNATING (these two could start for different teams). Same goes for Matute. Let’s not forget that Ronald Tubid (who is still alive after getting killed mightily on the floor by Marqus Blakely) is still around and so is Arwind Santos…oh wait.

They should’ve just stayed in the D-League. Period.

Anyway, not bad planning for the future right?

Grade: C

Rain or Shine Elasto Painters

Who they got: Raymund Almazan, Jeric Teng, Ervic Vijandre, Alex Nuyles, Gayford Rodriguez

My undervalued two cents:

When a big is averaging close to 15-15-3 (blocks) against legit behemoths like Ola Adeogun, Cedric Noubi Happi, Prince Caperal and Bradwyn Guinto, you don’t pass that up. Here’s a human windmill who has slowly developed his game since Year 1. Raymund Almazan is the perfect safety whenever Beau Belga races to close out on big guys that have perimeter games. Or vice versa since Almazan can run the floor well and is not a plodder. The offense needs to be developed but that is not a problem with Jeff Chan and Paul Lee around. What needs to be seriously worked on is his frame. He weighs 195 pounds. That’s as heavy as Derrick Rose guys.

But what really made RoS the winner of this draft is that they managed to grab someone who can contribute already, isn’t afraid and willing to work hard plus being an absolute freak athletically speaking (Alex Nuyles). And some pistolero who has shown that in big games, he will not shy away from the limelight but embrace it instead and dish out 500% effort (Jeric Teng).

Also, Gayford Rodriguez, laugh at his name all you want, is a solid player at his pick. This former UV Lancer has made it through and I’m sure he’ll get his own sometime. Watching him in the PCCL was enough for me.

And of course, Ervic Vijandre.

But of course, Almazan would be the future.

 Grade: A++ (no trading, just solid drafting and keeping!)

San Mig Coffee Mixers

Who they got: Ian Sangalang, Justin Chua, and Justin Melton, JR Cawaling

My undervalued two cents:

Ian Sangalang would make a living in Tim Cone’s pinch post. He’ll have those 15-18-footers all day. And this guy ain’t no chump. He’s still going to his prime and he’ll have one of the PBA’s greatest big guys as his tutor in my childhood idol Alvin Patrimonio. As one blog site said, makuha lang niya yung pivot ni Patrimonio, tapos ang usapan. I agree. If he develops the man-eating ways of Patrimonio in the paint, Sangalang will be a force to reckon with alongside Petron’s Fajardo.

Justin Chua, if he continues that Black Water play, where he dominated NLEX, will have a future ahead of him. Here’s a guy who’s the size of Marc Pingris, has deft touch of a Yancy de Ocampo, and yet, be as rough as Pinoy Sakuragi. He’ll be the perfect floor-spacer for Ian Sangalang in the long run.

Justin Melton is an athletic guard. A Chris Ross-type in that he is great moving laterally and ball-hawking but no J to speak off, however, he packs a mean vertical that may humiliate a big man foolishly standing in his way. He is also a former Gilas invitee so that adds to the pedigree of the kid. Oh, and this officially gives Alex Mallari a run for his money. Imagine the feistiness of a Barroca-Melton combo.

Grade: B+

Talk n Text Tropang Texters

Who they got: Poy Erram, Oping Sumalinog, Eliud Poligrates, Robby Celiz, John Villarias

My undervalued two cents:

Can we just call them the Talk n Text Tropang Blue Eagles? Come on. Norman Black is trying to grab his five-peat players and turn them into winners at the pro-level. Missing out on this is Rabeh Al-Hussaini, his favorite project, whom he traded for his best defender, Noy Baclao (Or BLOCKlao if you ask Rico Maierhoffer). Together with Erram, they’ll be “teaching” kuya RDO and Ali Peek of the intricate Norman Black overload man-to-man defense. Too bad Kirk Long and Zion Lattere can’t be drafted into the PBA so we can have my favorite All-Defensive Blue Eagles team. And who can forget Oping Sumalinog? This guy was supposed to star but didn’t get “it” in college. Here’s to hoping this kid gets the chance. He deserves it. If he played for any other school, he would have been drafted higher. No kidding.

Robby Celiz on the other hand, may be a diamond-in-the-rough. He’s 6’4,” can shoot, can dribble, can drive. Hope RDO can teach him tricks down in the post. God knows the People’s Elbow is not getting any younger.

Grade: B

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