Santillan likely a “future All-Star;”Manzo a potential “sleeper pick”

CEBU, Philippines — The highly anticipated 2021 PBA Rookie Draft drew a new record of 94 applicants.

The league’s annual exercise is yet to take place on March 14 but this early, some prospects have already been given a lofty billing by TV5 sports journalist Yoyo Sarmenta.

Among them are former University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers stars Leonard “Santi” Santillan and Jun Kent Manzo.

In his article titled “From franchise players to sleeper picks: Rating the PBA Rookie Draft prospects” posted on ESPN5 last Sunday (January 31), Sarmenta considered Santillan, a 6-foot-5 do-it-all forward from Lapu-Lapu City, as a “future All-Star” together with Jason Brickman, Taylor Statham, Calvin Oftana, and William Navarro.

“Santi Santillan, Calvin Oftana, and William Navarro represent very-able forwards who can do a little bit of everything on the floor,” Sarmenta wrote.

 “Think of a mold of a Troy Rosario or a Jason Perkins -- big, versatile, and can be a threat on offense and defense. If they’ll be picked by teams who are already stacked at the frontcourt, they can look at how Javee Mocon or Bong Quinto have adjusted their game so they can play multiple positions,” he added.

As for Manzo, Sarmenta tipped the versatile 5-foot-10 guard from Nasipit, Agusan del Norte to be one of the “sleeper picks” alongside RK Ilagan, Alec Stockton, Franky Johnson, Andrew Estrella, and Reymar Caduyac.

In sporting parlance, a “sleeper pick” is a person or player who is not of high value when being drafted, but ends up being one of the top picks. 

“Every year, there are those who aren’t projected to be high picks but then gets picked in the first round. There are also those who are picked in the latter rounds, with teams not expecting much, but they turn out to be a revelation or a significant contributor in the long run,” Sarmenta noted.

Both Manzo and Santillan first polished their hoop skills with the UV Lancers in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) before carving their own niche in the UAAP with the La Salle Green Archers and UP Fighting Maroons, respectively.