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:
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.
Julius Pasculado - played pro am summer league in chicago where the nba players and euro league players play during the off season. Only asian ever to pkay in that league. Find him in youtube. Pretty popular here in the gritty neighborhood. The only asian to be invited in the proam league. Was personally invitd by the piston's will bynum to work out with him this summer.
ReplyDeleteWe love this boy because of his tenacity and hard work. Heard he walk miles in the snow just to get to the gym to workout and playball everyday... No car, and sometimes want to save and not pay for bus fare. Humble kid with a simple life here in chitown. Grew up in the philippines. Now back there to fullfill his dreams. Heard one of the biggest agents in your country got him aft he saw his highlight video. He knows he's an underdog, his facebook says. We wish you luck, tsunami!
ReplyDeletehopefully you're right because the way i see it, he needs to battle a bunch of known guys that already has rapport and an extremely vicious rookie camp. fact is every fil-am guard that played here wants to be like mark caguioa but always ends up like denver lopez.
ReplyDeleteI think every man wants to live his dream whatever background he comes from. Good luck to tsunami and every kid on this list. Every baller worth his dime respects heart and I'm sure all of them have it to be this good.
ReplyDeletei still think he should have played in the d-league first to at least assess the basketball situation in the philippines.
ReplyDeleteIt may not have been his decision...
ReplyDeletewell japeth aguilar did not have a say in his career and it almost got him banned.
ReplyDelete