2011 PBA Draft: THE MOCK PBA DRAFT as of August 22, 2011

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!