Kia scores KO in draft

Kia Motors got what the Kamao wanted in the first round of the PBA draft at the jam-packed Robinson’s Place Manila last Sunday. Playing coach Manny Pacquiao was picked in absentia and formalized his entry into the pro league’s active ranks. Kia wound up as the draft’s valedictorian with 13 choices. The other expansion franchise Blackwater finished with eight and passed up six slots while Kia kept throwing names into the derby.

One of Kia’s draftees was Pacquiao’s first cousin Rene, the 25th overall pick and first in the third round. Under the terms of this year’s draft, only Kia and Blackwater picked beyond the second round.

San Mig Coffee and Meralco sat out the proceedings. Mixers coach Tim Cone is obviously content with the 14 players in his Grand Slam lineup. This coming season, the league will limit each team to 12 active players and two on reserve, down from 14 and two. Cone brought in rookies Ian Sangalang, Justin Melton and Isaac Holstein last year so there isn’t a pressing need for young blood.

Meralco would’ve picked second overall but traded the slot away in 2012 for Ronjay Buenafe who’s now with Globalport. The Bolts could’ve used some fresh talent but coach Norman Black has a solid core with Jared Dillinger, Gary David, Cliff Hodge, Reynel Hugnatan, Mike Cortez and Rey Guevarra so it’s not as if he’s taking over from Ryan Gregorio with a handicap. Black might check out who’s available among the free agents to shore up his bench.

Four teams had just one pick apiece – N-Lex, San Miguel Beer, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and Talk ‘N’ Text. The Road Warriors took in Matt Ganuelas who played for coach Boyet Fernandez in the D-League so unfamiliarity won’t be an issue. San Miguel Beer dealt Chico Lanete, Jojo Duncil and a second round pick for Barako Bull’s first slot this year and 2016. Coach Leo Austria ended up with sweet-shooting Ronald Pascual of San Sebastian. Talk ‘N’ Text took its turn in the second round and named Harold Arboleda of Perpetual. Arboleda, 23, is a 6-1 1/2 guard with an incredible wingspan of 82 1/2 inches, the widest among 87 rookie hopefuls. Ginebra went after Adamson’s Rodney Brondial who is being touted as the next Rudy Hatfield.

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Alaska picked thrice – Chris Banchero in the first round and Rome de la Rosa and Junjun Alas in the second. The Aces traded two more second round picks to Globalport. Barako Bull had five choices even if coach Siot Tanquingcen gave up the third overall slot – 6-3 2/3 Jake Pascual, 6-3 2/3 David Semerad, 6-5 Papot Paredes, 5-11 2/3 Philip Morrison and 6-2 Gab Banal. The draft delivered players to fill in five different positions. Morrison is a point guard with quickness and a shooting touch. Banal is a two or three who plays physical defense. Paredes is a pure center. Both Pascual and Semerad can play either three or four. Tanquingcen couldn’t complain.

Rain Or Shine and Globalport named four each. The Elasto Painters took Kevin Alas in the first round, anticipating Paul Lee’s transfer to a team that’s still not known. Coach Yeng Guiao also brought in Jericho Cruz, Kevin Espinosa and Mike Gamboa – all of whom are guards. The rumor that Guiao would pick Pacquiao to later trade the WBO welterweight champion to Kia for a future first pick turned out to be a lot of hot air. Guiao wouldn’t do that to a fellow Congressman. Besides, a PBA source said a team that would pick Pacquiao before Kia ran the risk of losing the slot altogether if commissioner Chito Salud found it in bad faith and ruled to void.

The 6-2 Espinosa, 26, is from San Beda and Mapua and was a surprise pick. Another surprise was Gamboa, 25, who stands 5-6 1/ 2 and weighs a hefty 160 pounds. Guiao lost Alex Nuyles in the dispersal draft and may lose Lee but picking four guards may be an overreaction. After all, Rain Or Shine still has Chris Tiu, T. Y. Tang, Jonathan Uyloan and Jireh Ibanes. Additionally, Ryan Arana, Jeff Chan, Jeric Teng and Gabe Norwood are swing two or three players.

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As expected, the Batang Pier snatched Stanley Pringle who will be the team’s franchise-builder. Globalport also nabbed Anthony Semerad, Prince Caperal and John Pinto. Semerad is a legit 6-4 1/4 forward from San Beda while Caperal and Pinto are from Arellano. Caperal was the tallest drafted player at 6-6 1/2.

Blackwater’s picks were Juami Tiongson, Frank Golla, Brian Heruela, Maclean Sabellina, Juneric Baloria, Raul Soyud, Clark Bautista and Ford Ruaya. Tiongson and Golla are from Ateneo. Kia named Pacquiao, Kyle Pascual, Rene Pacquiao, Kenneth Ighalo, Paolo Taha, Jeremy Bartolo, Anthony Gavieres, Richard Cole, Victor Umali, Jonathan Banal, Michael Acuna, Mark Romero and Francis Bercede.

Of the 87 draft eligibles, only 41 were picked, leaving out 6-4 3/4 Andrew Avillanoza, 6-6 1/4 Jefferson Morillo, 6-5 1/2 Jeff Montemayor, 6-5 1/4 John Montemayor, 6-3 Jovet Mendoza, 6-3 Jonathan Belorio and the celebrated Draft Combine Fil-Ams Cody Tesoro and Franklin Bonifacio. It’s not the end of the world for those who weren’t picked. They’re now free agents who can try out for any team. Undrafted players who eventually made it to the PBA include Jerwin Gaco, Mark Yee, Chico Lanete, Dennis Daa, Rudy Lingganay, Mark Canlas, J. R. Aquino and Josh Urbiztondo so working hard to land a spot in a roster is a real possibility.