2011 PBA DRAFT: SHOPINAS CLICKERS – WHAT THEY NEED

(This is the first of ten articles called What They Need. Last year, I made a version where we called out a PBA team’s roster and pick out the slots they need to shore up. Most of these deficiencies are addressed via the draft.) 

Holy crap. Let’s just say this. Last season’s... or Barako Bull’s last three seasons have been crap. Little by little, the powerful Red Bull army created by Yeng Guiao got dismantled and in the process left the team in shambles. Barako Bull, fighting battles in the hardcourt as well as the legal court, is poised to say bye-bye.

They did... after the 2010-11 Philippine Cup.

TOP FIVE ENERGY BOOSTERS OF THE 2010-11 SEASON:

1 PAOLO HUBALDE  

PHILCUP: 6.7PPG – 3.4RPG – 4.0APG – 0.9SPG – 14 GAMES

COMCUP: (SAN MIGUEL) 0.8PPG - 1.2RPG - 1.3APG - 6 GAMES 

GOVCUP: (PETRON) 1.7PPG – 1.2RPG – 1.1APG – 16 GAMES

2 ROB WAINWRIGHT

PHILCUP: 5.9PPG – 3.4RPG – 1.4APG – 12 GAMES

COMCUP: DID NOT PLAY

GOVCUP: DID NOT PLAY

3 RICHARD YEE

PHILCUP: 4.8PPG – 4.0RPG – 12 GAMES

COMCUP: DID NOT PLAY

GOVCUP: DID NOT PLAY

4 MARK ANDAYA

PHILCUP: 3.4PPG – 3.6RPG – 1.6BPG – 13 GAMES

COMCUP: DID NOT PLAY

GOVCUP: DID NOT PLAY

5 PONG ESCOBAL   

PHILCUP: (MERALCO) 5.2PPG – 2.7RPG – 1.4APG – 9 GAMES

COMCUP: (B-MEG) 2.3PPG – 1.3RPG – 1.1APG – 8 GAMES

GOVCUP: (B-MEG) 0.8PPG – 0.5RPG – 0.5APG – 4 GAMES

If you’re going to look at their Top 5, only two of these players played for the season until the last conference. Hell, Escobal was picked by the squad when the Energy Boosters have already been eliminated (trade that sent Mark Isip and Reed Juntilla to Meralco).

Basically I did this part of this article for the sake of just doing something.

Moving on...

WHAT THEY NEED:

CENTERS: Where do I start? The Clickers (smart name since it identifies the moniker to the brand without sounding dick-ish) needs to boost their frontline. I don’t think they’ll solve their woes in this draft (unless they time travel to 2012 and claim the rights of Greg Slaughter, Junmar Fajardo, or Aldrech Ramos) but having a big core with Marlou Aquino, Big Mac Andaya and Ken Bono is a start.

FORWARDS: This is another position they need to check. I have no idea if they still have the rights to Rob Wainwright, Richard Yee, Chad Alonzo, Dennis Daa, and Jason Misolas but as I said, the team has a huge void to fill in their lineup. Does Lordy Tugade still have the legs to perform stellar feats? That remains to be seen.

GUARDS: They lack a marquee shooting guard but there are doable pawns in this lineup. Paolo Hubalde when given the minutes can be a great orchestrator. He was a wonderful addition for the Petron Blaze Boosters and he’ll be yearning to win now since he has tasted gold. Pong Escobal and Borgie Hermida are two other players that can shore up their backcourt. The team still has Marvin Cruz in their mix so it will be interesting how the PG rotation plays out.

WHO SHOULD THEY PICK? 

First of all, the team needs a scorer. I hope they get Paul Lee but I doubt if he’s available at the fifth spot. If it’s not Lee then the Clickers must choose between Mac Baracael, Dylan Ababou, Chris Lutz, and Mark Barroca. I know the Clickers have too many guards at the moment but they don’t have a marquee guard and Barroca could shape their future with his brand of play. The eleventh pick can be met by getting Magi Sison, Reil Cervantes, Ken Acibar, or Eric Salamat.

Any of these players can start on their team given the current cast they have right now.

Still they can’t rely much in the draft. Much of their offensive boosts will rely on free agency. With Mark Macapagal now with Meralco, Renren Ritualo is expendable. Same goes with Don Allado in B-Meg. There are a lot of free agents that are available for their taking.

But still, they may find their savior in this draft.  

Game over.