2011 PBA Draft: BEAT THE DEADLINE!

The results are in. Out of the many big names that applied for the draft, only a handful showed up. Chris Tiu has opted not to join the draft, preferring flag over pay. D-League stalwarts like Vic Manuel and Woody Co failed to check in and behemoth Junmar Fajardo was barred from joining the draft.

And for some insane reason, I have a blog written weeks before the draft deadline and I think NCAA players read it.

Happy... happy... fun... fun.

In all, 36 players have joined the draft. If you missed my first 19 player previews:

CLICK THIS!

AND THIS!

To conclude the list, here are the rest of the draft applicants.

JV CASIO – Arguably the Smart-Gilas’ go-to-guy next to Marcus Douthit, I doubt if teams will pass up a chance to get this preppy DLSU guard. He has an accurate long ball and is very, very streaky. In his stint with Gilas he also learned how to orchestrate with gusto. Whenever Rajko Toroman needs a scoring presence, he’ll find what he’s looking for in Casio. This is also a reason why Smart-Gilas is trying to push for him to ditch his PBA dream. He’s not budging though... yet.  

PAUL LEE – The Cobra Commander’s addition to the list is a welcome sight. All of a sudden, scorer-starved squads have a chance to shore up their backcourt with this player. Lee was Mr. Do-It-All back with the UAAP’s UE Red Warriors and with the PBL and D-League’s Cobra Energy Drink. He is also a very effective rebounder and when tortured by defenses, he isn’t easily rattled.

DYLAN ABABOU – Before he became a seldom used stalwart at the Smart-Gilas squad, Ababou was a former UAAP MVP and part of UST’s champion squad. He can play multiple positions and he can shoot in multiple angles. In Gilas he learned to be scrappy to at least produce quality minutes for the squad. This is the problem for Dylan – two years of benchwarming could hurt a player’s confidence. Amongst the players that need to break out of Smart-Gilas, he is the most likely to benefit from it.

REIL CERVANTES – In his last season as a FEU Tamaraw, Cervantes was a gifted scorer and rebounder. I can see him as a great addition for teams in need of dual forwards. The draft is shallow in size so I think teams could claim him to bolster their lineup. He hits a decent-looking jump shot and when the game is on the line, he can be a good player to send in. He also played for the D-League’s Max Bond Super Glue Sumos.

KEN ACIBAR – Just like Paul Lee, this slotman ditched his final UAAP year to join the draft. During his final season with the UE Red Warriors, Acibar averaged almost with a double-double. In preparation for the draft, he joined Lee, Ezer Rosopa, and coach/handler Lawrence Chongson to train in the US. While his numbers are impressive, I doubt if he’s ready for the PBA wear and tear. He’ll be an early second round project.

MAGI SISON – I think people are forgetting that Sison was the last collegiate star (can’t say local because of the recent developments in Dondon Hontiveros) that was cut by Smart-Gilas. Sure he was benchwarming in Rajko Toroman’s mentorship but he’s a player that for more than 18 months learned how to properly play under a tough system. In his final season with the UP Fighting Maroons, Sison almost averaged in double-doubles.  

JULIUS PASCULADO – I have no idea what we can expect from this Windy City native but according to online postings, he stands 6 feet and played college ball at Wilbur Wright. I don’t know what he did to get qualified but hopefully he wouldn’t get snubbed just like what happened to John Smith.

CHRIS PESTANO – I have seen this Fil-Canadian’s name pop in Pinoy basketball forums but not unless you see them play, forums tend to deceive. However the George Brown College standout is a center and I’m sure size starved teams will yearn for his services.

MARTIN LLOYD ANTONIO – I haven’t seen him play but through research I discovered that Antonio played for Season 82 NCAA Champs San Beda Red Lions. Unfortunately, this 6’5 forward was relegated to Team B by current coach Frankie Lim. He played for the Liga Pilipinas’ Laguna Stallions.

BRIAN ILAD – Playing for Junior Powerade in the D-League, fans will remember Ilad as the guy who DNP-ed his final UAAP game because he did something stupid in the game before it. He had a subpar UAAP stint and he was barely productive in his D-League stint but because of his DLSU championship lineage, he might see TV time at the draft in the late second round.  

MARK ABABON – Mark Ababon is a Liga Pilipinas vet. He was also part of the UV Lancers where he played ball-giver to Ariel Mepana and Greg Slaughter. I’m not sure of how he’ll fare in the draft, but I’m rooting for him to pick up at least a second round citation. Securing a playing spot though could be hard for this Cebuano.  

GERALD LAPUS – He is a graduating hopeful from the Arellano Chiefs who is unfazed at the un-success rate of NCAA players jumping to the PBA in the same year. Lapus is hoping his credible stint in D-League’s Blackwater Elite would bring him to a PBA squad. At best he can be a late second round pick. 

MARC AGUSTIN – The ink-laden baller is the son of former MVP and current Petron coach Ato Agustin. He played for Adamson in the UAAP during the days of Patrick Cabahug and Roel Hugnatan. He hasn’t had the career a la Atom Bomb but maybe Petron could draft him. The Boosters could have Jawo-Dodot Part 2!

JULIO MAGBANUA – This former Rizal Tech star but the 6’3 forward spent his D-League conference with the PC Gilmore Wizards. The nice thing about Magbanua is he’s just 21 so when a team supposedly picks him and parks him to their farm squad, he could turn out well.

PAUL SORONGAN – The PC Gilmore Wizard once played for the UE Red Warriors in the UAAP. He is also a PBL vet and maybe I can see him getting drafted since the draft depth is pretty thin. If luck fails him in the draft, then I can sense him doing a Josh Urbiztondo and hunt down a team that will use his services.

EZER ROSOPA – Here’s the thing – I think it’s better for Rosopa to be realistic and use the D-League in the fullest sense. In his last season with the UE Red Warriors, he was barely a second-stringer. Sure he is training in the US but I doubt if this is enough for him to even be a second round pick.  

JOHN CHAMBERLIN – I honestly know little about Chamberlin. Basing it through research, he played forward for the Technological Institute of the Philippines Engineers. I think it’s best for him to get tenderized in the D-League (if he still can) or Liga Pilipinas just like what Mark Yee and Larry Rodriguez did.

PHILIP MEDENILLA – Again, here is another player that I haven’t heard of. Online reports say that he’s a guard that played college ball at State University of New York at Oswego. I doubt if this is a NCAA Division 1 school and I doubt if he’ll get drafted.

The talent in this list is kind of weak quantity-wise but you can’t argue the fact that the first round of this draft will be wickedly solid.

Game over.