Energy Cola odd mix steals show

MANILA, Philippines - Barako Bull had a steal on the PBA Draft Day – stealing the scene from Barangay Ginebra and Globalport with its odd mix of trades and recruits that had the league itself shaking its head in disbelief.

Instead of bolstering their roster with young promising recruits from the talent-rich pool in the draft at Robinsons Place Manila Sunday, the Energy Cola instead dealt away three first-round picks and tapped players who were either second-stringers or discards from their former teams.

They gave away opportunities to grab the likes of James Forrester, Terrence Romeo and RR Garcia, and instead settled with Rico Maierhofer, Willy Wilson, Mark Isip, Magi Sison and Denok Miranda.

Team manager Raffy Casyao didn’t return The STAR’s request for his comment on the criticisms drawn by their team.

“Barako gave up all its first round picks, and did its second round. ‘The world wonders’ – Admiral Chester W Nimitz :),” said Talk n Text and Meralco owner Manny V. Pangilinan on his Twitter account.

“Meron silang alam na hindi natin alam (They know something that we don’t),” said a PBA board member who refused to be identified.

Before the draft, Barako traded young lead guard Emman Monfort for Ginebra third-string playmaker Rob Labagala, then dealt Rico Villanueva for Globalport’s Willie Miller and Hans Thiele.

But PBA commissioner Chito Salud said he didn’t see lopsided trades during the draft.

“If the issue is strategy, wisdom and rationale behind Barako’s or any other team’s decision to trade their picks for current stars or vice versa, that’s obviously not within my province to explain or second-guess,” Salud said.

“It remains clearly and solely within the ballclub’s prerogative and the teams would thus be in the best position to explain the direction they have chose to take, provided of course there are no one-sided trades involved,” the league commissioner added.

After passing up on the first round, Barako tabbed Jeric Fortuna, Carlo Lastimosa, Darwin Cordero, Jett Vidal and Mike Silungan in the succeeding rounds.

The Energy Cola ended up with five veterans and the same number of rookie hopefuls to be added to Miller, Thiele, Labagala and a handful of holdovers led by Danny Seigle, Mick Pennisi, Ronjay Buenafe, JC Intal and Jonas Villanueva.

A total of 44 players were drafted, with Globalport and Ginebra taking six each, Barako Bull, Rain or Shine and Talk n Text five apiece, Air21, Meralco and San Mig Coffee four each, Alaska three and Petron Blaze just two.

Rain or Shine and Alaska Milk, the most competitive teams outside of the SMC and MVP umbrellas, were satisfied with their picks.

The Elasto Painters got Letran center Raymond Almazan at No. 3, Adamson wing man Alex Nuyles at No. 9, UST star Jeric Teng at No. 12 and UV’s Gayford Rodriguez at No. 19.

“Same as last year when we got Chris Tiu, we didn’t think we could get Jeric Teng deep at No. 12 in this draft,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.

“We got good picks making us deeper and younger. We now have a surplus of players but that’s a good problem. Everybody has to compete. It’s a constructive problem,” Guiao also said.

Alaska, meanwhile, landed Ateneo forward Ryan Buenafe (No. 8), FEU guard Chris Exciminiano (No. 18) and the little-known Raymund Ilagan (No. 28). The Aces traded their No. 15 pick to the Talk n Text Tropang Texters who used the rights to draft JP Erram.

“We’re already filled with core players that’s why we traded our first choice in the second round. We used our second pick in the same round to get a role player,” said Alaska coach Luigi Trillo.

At the end of the draft exercise, the consensus was Ginebra, Globalport, San Mig Coffee, Rain or Shine and Alaska Milk have become better teams. The Kings look to become instant title contenders.

“In terms of depth, Talk n Text and Petron used to be way up there. They now have a close competition with Ginebra,” said Guiao.