Deep or shallow draft?

In terms of quantity, this year’s PBA draft pool is the deepest ever. The applicants reached 95, the most in league history. But in terms of quality, the depth of talent is still to be determined.

Clearly, the pool lacks bigs. It’s loaded with guards and wings. Based on the players’ applications, only 25 listed themselves to be 6-4 and over. That list will surely go down once the PBA completes the standard sizing of the rookie hopefuls. Only one player was bold enough to list his height as 6-7, the highest in the batch – John Montemayor of Jose Rizal University.

Claiming to be 6-6 were Andrew Avillanoza of the University of the Visayas, Prince Caperal of Arellano, John Foronda of Letran, Jeff Montemayor of Jose Rizal, Jefferson Morillo of TIP and Raul Soyud of UP. In the (alleged) 6-5 bracket were Rodney Brondial of Adamson, Jovet Mendoza of La Salle, Rene Pacquiao of Southwestern University, Papot Paredes of La Salle, Kyle Pascual of San Beda, Jake Pascual of San Beda, Matt Ganuelas of N-Lex via California Polytechnic at Pomona, Maclean Sabellina of STI and David and Anthony Semerad of San Beda. At 6-4 were Mark Berry of NU, Jackson Corpuz of PCU, Jamieson Cortes of Letran, Anthony Gavieres of Virginia Commonwealth, Frank Golla of Ateneo, John Maiquez of San Sebastian, Alan Santos of Adamson and Russell Yaya of EAC.

Are any of the 25 bigs in contention for a first round slot? Maybe, Jake Pascual, Brondial and Ganuelas will be considered. Some of the others could go in the second round like one or both Semerads and even Golla who played on four UAAP title squads but they’re long shots. What’s certain is the draft has crack guards like Stanley Pringle, Chris Banchero, Kevin Alas, Juami Tiongson, Juneric Baloria, Clark Bautista, Philip Morrison and Jericho Cruz and top wings like Rome de la Rosa, Ronald Pascual and Gab Banal. Players who are adjustable to function in multiple positions will be sought out.

* * * *

Because two of the PBA’s three conferences feature imports, coaches warm up to players who can switch spots to allow for flexibility in rotations. Swingmen are high in this category. Combo guards are also a luxury. It’s no secret that Globalport will pick Pringle first overall and that’s a no-brainer. Pringle, 27, is a mature player who will contribute and make an impact from Day One. It won’t take long for Pringle to establish himself in the PBA. Same with Banchero who like Pringle, comes with ABL experience. Both Pringle and Banchero played on ABL championship teams.

Aside from Globalport picking Pringle, the other certainty in the draft is Kia choosing WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao in the first round. Pacquiao won’t be at the draft rites in Robinson’s Place Manila on Sunday as he’s committed to a press tour organized by Top Rank for his Nov. 23 defense against Chris Algieri in Macau. Pacquiao’s business manager Eric Pineda said the fighting congressman from Sarangani will fly to Beijing the day before the draft and travel to Macau and Shanghai before hitting the US drumbeat trail. Pineda said Kia will also draft Pacquiao’s first cousin Rene, who’s listed at 6-5, if he’s available.

Blackwater team owner Dioceldo Sy said the Elite will zero in on Tiongson and Cruz but the question is will either be available when coach Leo Isaac takes his first crack with the 11th pick? Blackwater’s next slot is No. 23. Starting the third round, the remaining players will be exclusively for Kia and Blackwater picking alternately.

* * * *

The recent dispersal draft for the expansion clubs left little room for rookies at Kia and Blackwater. Obviously, both teams prefer experienced to untested players. You can’t blame Blackwater for plucking 37-year-old Danny Ildefonso who’s still very serviceable and Kia for taking a chance on bigs like Reil Cervantes, Mike Burtscher and Hans Thiele. Even 10-year pro Norman Gonzales found his way back to the PBA after a two-season absence through Blackwater. There’s also a slew of free agents knocking on the door for another chance. That has opened the window for 2004 first overall draft pick Rich Alvarez to reenter the league and prove he’s far from finished as a pro. Khasim Mirza, Eric Suguitan and Rudy Lingganay are other free agents trying out for Kia even as they weren’t picked in the dispersal draft.

At Kia, there are four players, including two undrafted, trying to break into the PBA. Paul Sanga wasn’t picked in the draft last year while Eder Saldua missed out in 2008. Joshua Webb was chosen in the third round by Air21 last year but never got to play and Alvin Padilla was picked in the fifth round by Ginebra but also never got to play. They were all chosen by Kia in the dispersal draft and may finally play this season.

Sanga, 27, played four years with FEU. Saldua, 31, suited up for the University of Mindanao and FEU and is long overdue in the PBA. Padilla, 26, saw action in four years with UP. Webb, 24, played five years with La Salle and is in line to become the first third-generation player in the PBA after grandfather Freddie and uncle Jason. Webb will reunite with Archers teammate L. A. Revilla in the pros.