I
could have scared the NCAA people.
But
maybe it’s for the better.
The
only sad thing about their ouster is that it leaves the draft depth shallow. With
Junmar Fajardo, Calvin Abueva, Greg
Slaughter, Aldrech Ramos, Chris Tiu, Vic Manuel, Cliff Hodge, Chris Ellis,
other Fil-Ams, and the rest of the San
Sebastian and San Beda squads battling for positions in 2012, it’s anybody’s
ballgame on who deserves to be called the top choice of the 2011 PBA Draft.
Anyway,
I will change the second round draft order once I get the actual draft order. I
checked it on Wikipedia to find out
the proper draft order of the second round and I still think there’s a problem
with the information I got.
Oh and by the way, I had a lot of time in my house so I spent it on doing image graffiti.
FIRST ROUND
(** draft order is subject to
change)
1 POWERADE TIGERS / JV
CASIO
Powerade
enjoys success whenever they have a marquee guard. As Coca-Cola, they had
Johnny Abarrientos and Alex Cabagnot. Even back in the Pop Cola/Swift/Sunkist
days they had Al Solis and Boybits Victoria. They need a point guard that can
direct the Tigers to the top and at the same time help Gary David in the
scoring load. Inasmuch as Marcio Lassiter is a better all-around guy and
inasmuch as I’m disappointed that Junmar Fajardo, Chris Tiu, and Calvin Abueva
are not part of the draft, JV Casio is the right player for the Tigers.
2 RAIN OR SHINE ELASTO
PAINTERS / PAUL LEE
So if
it’s not Casio then it’s Lassiter for Rain or Shine? NOT! I think Yeng Guiao
has learned from the debacle that was the selection of Japeth Aguilar. Paul Lee
is not affiliated with Smart-Gilas which means the National Team will not
bother borrowing him for future activities. Furthermore, he is a marquee point
guard that the Painters desperately need. And just like Powerade, Rain or Shine
only had one player that averaged in double figures which is another reason why
they need to draft Paul Lee.
3 BARAKO BULL coffee makers
/ MARCIO LASSITER
Of
course Barako Bull (formerly Air21) will grab the best spoils left by the
Tigers and the Painters. Lassiter can be a top pick... or a third pick but
letting him slide to the fourth spot is unacceptable. Imagine Barako Bull with
Lassiter playing small forward and Danny Seigle, Dondon Hontiveros, and Willie
Miller as part of the starting lineup. Lassiter is like a small Rudy Hatfield
because he can board but his shooting range is wider. For Barako Bull, let me
tell you that this guy is a keeper!
4 POWERADE tigers / MAC
BARACAEL
If the
Tigers decide to get JV Casio then they need to get themselves a big man.
Unfortunately, I doubt if they’ll use this spot to claim Jason Ballesteros. In
the Smart-Gilas games, Toroman would at times use Baracael in the four spot and
he would use skills to get semblance in his showing. Now I doubt if the FEU
Tamaraw can use his abilities to play the four spot in the PBA but Powerade
will gain another scorer to further strengthen their lineup.
5 SHOPINAS CLICKERS / CHRIS
LUTZ
I
haven’t seen him score shots in succession but maybe it’s because he’s playing
under a system. While I’d rather have Shopinas claim Mark Barroca, Lutz is just
too good to pass up at this point. The guy has range, doesn’t force his shots,
and is a pretty valuable player when it comes to defense. Lutz also proved his
value when Toroman is trying hard to make him withdraw his draft application.
The guy like I said reminds me of Jeffrey Cariaso and he could be the guy to
jumpstart the Shopinas franchise.
6 ALASKA ACES / MARK
BARROCA
I
would have wanted Lutz to seriously become Jeff Cariaso 2.0 in Alaska but I
think it will be difficult for Smart-Gilas to “borrow” Lutz as an Ace. Settling
with Mark Barroca is not that bad though. Barroca is a big time playmaker from
FEU and his skills was further honed as co-captain of Team Pilipinas. He is
also a good scorer and for his size, a very effective rebounder. Alaska has
been searching for a credible backup for LA Tenorio and Barroca may even be
enough to slide LA to the two-spot.
7 TALK N TEXT TROPANG
TEXTERS / JASON BALLESTEROS
Unless
you count Gilbert Lao as an over 6’6 inside force, then you may have noticed
that ceiling is lacking in the TNT camp. Sure, they could get Japeth Aguilar to
play this season but what better way to piss undersized squads than by hording
the only credible big man in the draft! Ginebra and Petron are two teams in
need to level up their size at the moment. Jason Ballesteros is a defensive
powerhouse that can swat shots and claim caroms. I can see him as a project to
hone in preparation to Ali Peek’s retirement or a trade bait in exchange for
the 2012 Draft.
8 PETRON blaze boosters /
DYLAN ABABOU
Petron
is not as tough and deep as it was a season ago. Ever since they dismantled
their squad, they have lost their regular players and this version rival the
time when San Miguel was solely the Nelson Asaytono show during the pre-Danny
Ildefonso years. Ababou is has range and can play multiple positions. He is
also a former UAAP MVP and a UAAP Champion so Ababou is no slouch to success.
Ababou needs to be a team that would use his services wisely and he can blossom
in Petron.
9 BARANGAY GINEBRA KINGS /
REIL CERVANTES
I’m
pretty much sure that Reil Cervantes will be the third FEU star to get drafted
in the first round and I’m pretty sure teams like Ginebra are interested in his
services. He is a combo forward that has speed, lift, and range. He can switch
from small forward to power forward fearlessly which is what a run and gun
squad like Ginebra needs. He will not solve Ginebra’s size problem (they should
pick Magi Sison if they want that) but he may be one of the best players left
at this point.
10 BARAKO BULL coffee
makers / MAGI SISON
This
double-double machine from the UP Fighting Maroons is one of the last college
stars to be cut in the Smart-Gilas lineup. With Dorian Pena in sickbay for the
duration of the Governor’s Cup, the former Air21 Express found it hard to
compete with size in the paint. Also, B-Bull team manager Allan Gregorio is one
of the brains behind that National Team campaign so he is familiar with Sison
on a personal and professional basis. Personally though, I’d rather see Sison
play for Powerade because his playing time in that squad will be abundant.
SECOND ROUND
(** draft order is subject to
change)
11 BARAKO BULL COFFEE
MAKERS / ERIC SALAMAT
Spreading
Eagle-ness in the Coffee Makers’ backcourt is Salamat. What he will bring to
the team is championship pedigree. He can fire at will and is a tenacious
defender. One thing that won’t work for him however is his size so I guess the
PBA will mark the end of Salamat’s shooting guard position. You can never tell
though since fellow Bull Willie Miller is the epitome of a great combo guard
that’s under 6-feet.
12 RAIN OR SHINE ELASTO
PAINTERS / Kenneth acibar
ROS
acquired this pick from Powerade when in 2008, the then-Welcoat Dragons traded
Nic Belasco to Powerade for Mark Isip and two second round picks. At this point
Acibar needs seasoning and the ability to play the forward spots a la Leo
Najorda. He plays center for the UE Red Warriors and he can post, rebound, and
defend the middle. Ken Acibar might be a project but what a wonderful project
he’ll turn out once he develops.
13 barako bull COFFEE
MAKERS / ALLEIN MALIKSI
I
think Barako Bull/Air21 got this from the trade that involved Sol Mercado,
Ronjay Buenafe, and Jay-R Reyes. He will be listed in the annals as the first-ever
D-League MVP. In his UST days he was forced to patrol the shaded area but with
Cebuana Lhuillier we saw that he has range. If there’s one player that
benefitted and boosted his chances to get drafted, it is definitely this guy.
14 RAIN OR SHINE ELASTO
PAINTERS / GILBERT BULAWAN
This
former San Sebastian Stag fits the bill on those hard-working and
devil-may-care players that Yeng Guiao yearns. He can play both forward spots,
has a decent jumper and is seriously scrappy. I can see him battling for loose
balls, diving for possessions, and even giving those hard fouls that will make
Coach Yeng giddy. There’s a Junthy Valenzuela lurking on the insides of this
kid.
15 B-MEG LLAMADOS / JULIUS
PASCULADO
Time
now to check out the virtual unknowns that will try their luck on the draft!
The guy stands at least six feet and if there is one thing the Llamados could
shore is that their guard-forward spot needs furnishing. Pasculado could play
multiple positions for the squad and could be the surprise package that would
stun the hell off the teams that didn’t pick him.
16 ALASKA ACES / MARVIN
GRAEBEL
Alaska
is no stranger in picking up Fil-foreigners. While they got a special player in
Sonny Thoss, they got a wasted pick in Mike Burtscher. Graebel knows how Philippine
basketball works and is deemed solid in the hustle department. Alaska needs
size at this moment and they can get Graebel at a bargain in that position.
Hopefully the player they’ll pick gets an easy time understanding the triangle.
17 POWERADE TIGERS / JAMES
MARTINEZ
Shopinas
(Barako Bull) sent this pick to Powerade after they became a pawn for Meralco
to acquire Asi Taulava. Martinez’ stock suffered when an ACL injury prevented
him from competing in what was the best UE season in the last 30 years. He
played combo guard while he was in college and I can see him grabbing
significant minutes for the squad.
18 PETRON BLAZE BOOSTERS / PAMBOY
RAYMUNDO
He is
one of the best point guards the NCAA produced in the last four years or so. He
is a pass-first orchestrator that can take the occasional clutch jumpers. He is
a title-hungry dynamo that is partly responsible for San Sebastian championship
a couple of weeks back and the NLEX Road Warriors’ title win in the first
D-League conference. With Paolo Hubalde returning to Barako Bull (Shopinas), it’s
time for Pamboy to reunite with Ato Agustin.
19 BARANGAY GINEBRA KINGS /
CHRIS PESTANO
Again,
there’s this Fil-Canadian that has height. This is something that the Kings
need right now. Pestano plays the 4 and 5 position and hopefully he’ll do
something significant for the squad. Again, I have no clue how this pick will
end up. At this point, I’m sensing a lot of teams doubt the draft depth.
Hopefully Pestano would do something significant in this turn.
20 TALK N TEXT TROPANG
TEXTERS / MARC CAGOCO
How
can a season if three finals appearance end in disappointment? Well one way
would be failing to win the do-or-die game of the Governor’s Cup finals. With
that said, Cagoco will be a valuable pickup to a team that doesn’t really need
another player. Cagoco could see action in Meralco who is in need of a backup
point guard but maybe the JRU player can see time with the TNT squad with
injuries and fatigue hurting them.
So
this is how I see the 2011 PBA Draft. I tried to tie in the Smart-Gilas boys
with the Fil-foreigners and the collegiate stars.
Will I
get at least fifty percent of my predictions right?
Find
it out here!
Game
over!
Note: medyo conflicting ang mga online reports
ReplyDeletejust in case lang:
7 gin ballesteros
8 pbb ababou
9 tnt sison
10 bb cervantes
I just googled what hapoened to that player who almost got suspended. Philippine pro hoops is excuting. Our whole neighborhood is now all eyes on your country's rookie draft because of our neighborhood kid. We don't know if we can watch it online but it seems like you are the best and informative blog for this so we will have you on bookmark. Thanks Sydman!
ReplyDeletepls disregard the second round of this draft. the right version will be posted a little later. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat Blog!
ReplyDeleteChicago south sider here and we all rootin for him.
JP was labeled Tsunami in an all-star Pro-Am game in the south side of Chicago last winter. if drafted, the Tsunami nickname would best fit him.
if he can be at least a josh urbiztondo then he'll be extremely useful in the pba.
ReplyDelete