I have not been
blogging about the 2019 PBA Draft.
I detached a bit
on the whole PBA blogging this 2019.
I made a mock PBA
Draft last September and that blog aged poorly with Thirdy Ravena, Joshua Munzon, Jason Brickman, Franky Johnson, Santi Santillan, Larry Muyang, Alvin Pasaol, Owen Graham, Jeremiah Grey, Kobe Paras, and others taking their talents elsewhere. In addition, I really, really
hate that the first major project of the next season is right smack in the
middle of the 2018-19 PBA season.
Can I even say "2018-19 PBA season" when the season started in January?
Okay… the special
draft.
I do not know what
to think of this. As far as I can remember, the Gilas prospects of 2016 rarely
played for the national squad. Worse, some of the players rarely played for
their PBA teams. Except for one tourney and a couple of PBA all-star matches, I
do not think I remember either Russel Escoto, Arnold Van Opstal or Fonzo
Gotladera donning the national colors. Moreover, as far as prospects are unless the names are RR Pogoy, Matthew Wright, Jio Jalalon and Mac Belo, I do
not think the other Gilas cadets of that class deserve a return stint to the
nationals with how their careers turned out.
Anyway, here is my
prediction blog!
SPECIAL DRAFT
1 | COLUMBIAN DYIP | ISAAC GO
Regular draft or
special draft, it is superbly insane to snub this former Blue Eagle as the
top pick. Sure, he is pretty much Ian Sangalang Lite at this stage of his
career. With that said, he is the only worthy big man to be taken this high…
and Columbian is in desperate need of adding some height on their roster.
2 | BLACKWATER ELITE | REY SUERTE
Of all the teams
that should have vetoed this last-minute draft addition, it should have been
this team! They just missed out on Roosevelt Adams! With that said, I am going
to go with the former CESAFI MVP over Matt Nieto because Suerte has more
experience as a top option unlike Nieto who racked team gold after team gold
but never really became Ateneo’s go-to-guy.
3 | NLEX ROAD WARRIORS | MATT NIETO
This is an easy
narrative. He is an efficient scorer that played for many Ateneo title squads.
Now I do not know how he will adjust in the PBA as a combo guard but he needs
to – especially since NLEX has Kiefer Ravena, Jericho Cruz, and Kevin Alas.
4 | ALASKA ACES | ALLYN BULANADI
I have to admit – I
had the last two picks of the special draft in the second round of the draft. I
guess I thought teams could easily fill the SG and SF spots than the PF and C
positions. The Aces are in dire need of a scorer though – especially with a new
coach and a team in search to re-live their past glory.
5 | RAIN OR SHINE ELASTO PAINTERS | MIKE NIETO
As mentioned, I
had the last two picks in the second round… so having Mike Nieto this high is a
good thing. It will go downhill right after though – as this pick’s inclusion
just gave Rain or Shine virtually four first-round picks. The thing about Mike
Nieto is that he was featured less as compared to the other Ateneans on this
list… hence his rank. I hope that Rain or Shine trades their other picks
because he might end up feuding with J-Jay Alejandro for bench seats.
REGULAR DRAFT
FIRST ROUND
6 | COLUMBIAN DYIP | ROOSEVELT ADAMS
With this revised
format, the PBA gave Columbian the best players of the draft – which is pretty
much Go and Roosevelt Adams. All of a sudden, Columbian has an impressive
starting core with Go and Adams teaming up with CJ Perez and Rashawn McCarthy.
I guess Adams could be a more explosive version of Jerramy King.
7 | BLACKWATER ELITE | MAURICE SHAW
Columbian could
get this person… but at 34, his age might be a liability in the future. Sure, he
is a former Harlem Globetrotter with a built that screams import… but Columbian
is a team that should pack youth and Shaw is far from it. Not Blackwater
though. Shaw will most definitely help the underachieving squad to a semblance
of a playoff run. In addition, he is a nice free agent just in case Blackwater
dissolves because, with the way they are decimating their lineup, the idea of
disbandment is not a farfetched thought.
8 | NLEX ROAD WARRIORS | ARVIN TOLENTINO
As mentioned, the
draft is stacked with shooting guards and small forwards, which is why I had
Yeng Guiao getting a combo forward. Tolentino had a tumultuous UAAP career in
which he went to FEU then to Ateneo and then to FEU again but has made waves in
the semi-pro leagues. In addition, this DLSU mentor is not going to make his
team overly populated with Ateneans.
9 | ALASKA ACES | AARON BLACK
Son of legendary
playing import coach Norman Black, it was nice for Aaron to step away from the
UAAP to get his bearing in other venues like his stint with the MPBL’s Quezon
City Capitals. I hope Jeff Cariaso could see his potential because Black could
have the potential of becoming the next Jet.
10 | RAIN OR SHINE ELASTO PAINTERS | SEAN MANGANTI
I have heard many
things about this former Adamson Soaring Falcon and vloggers have listed him
high on their mock drafts. With that said, teams with no first-round picks must
trade for this pick from Rain or Shine because the Elasto Painters already have
three picks… and I have yet to find a non-expansion squad thriving with four
rookies leading the way.
11 | RAIN OR SHINE ELASTO PAINTERS | BONBON BATILLER
Edison Batiller
did awesome ball back in UE but circumstances forced him to play college ball
elsewhere. From UAAP cellar-dwellers, Batiller claimed a title with Letran. So
with Letran alum Caloy Garcia as the coach, former Letran ace Rey Nambatac as
running buddy, and former king UE Warrior James Yap as his mentor, Bonbon is
probably going to do well in Rain or Shine.
12 | RAIN OR SHINE ELASTO PAINTERS | RICHARD ESCOTO
Rain or Shine is
probably going to get a big man and pair him up with a small player. Or
players… since they have a platoon of draft picks. Enter former FEU combo
forward Richard Escoto. Dude did well in FEU as well as in the MPBL and was
once perceived as a potential Gilas cadet. So there.
13 | NORTHPORT BATANG PIER | JERRICK BALANZA
The former Letran
Knight raised his draft stock when he helped his team against the
otherwise-dominant San Beda Red Lions. He also came back from a
career-threatening ailment to surprise all odds. He is a walking success story
and Pido Jarencio and Bonnie Tan will go insane when they select their former
player.
14 | MAGNOLIA HOTSHOTS | PRINCE RIVERO
He does not have
the size of Rafi Reavis and over the years, we have had our share of Marc
Pingris wannabes and successors to the throne. Prince Rivero could be a player
in that range… and that is a good thing for the Hotshots. Rivero, a former DLSU
Green Archer and Alab Pilipinas standout, is going to a helpful cog in their
future championship aspirations.
15 | BARANGAY GINEBRA KINGS | MIKE AYON-AYON
Many people say
that the MPBL is the “barangay” version of the PBA. Well, the statement might
be a good thing for this former PCU standout. I know Ginebra is littered with
small forwards and shooting guards now but I mean how can you pass up on a
never say die dude with attitude in the mold of Earl Scottie Thompson?
16 | TNT KATROPA | VINCE TOLENTINO
Former Ateneo
combo forward Vince Tolentino is my bet to hit first round glory. I thought he
should have made his PBA debut this season but then he fine-tuned his craft
with the MPBL’s Bataan Risers. TNT could use some hustle and flow off their
bench and I think Tolentino could be a good alternative for Anthony Semerad.
17 | COLUMBIAN DYIP | KENT SALADO
With Columbian
getting two awesome choices, I think they need a brilliant mind who could
possibly help Columbian get out of cellar hell. There was a time when Kent
Salado is perceived as point guard elite and he can be a good find this late in
the draft.
So there you have
it, I hope my predictions come true… although I really want Rain or Shine to
trade at least two of their picks.
END