2012 PBA Mock Draft

And this year's number one pick is...

With the 2012 PBA Draft just a little under a month away, it's that time of the year again to have some fun and "predict" which amateur standouts will be selected. Now, this writer won't be as brazen to say that he'll go 10/ 10, but the choices were made by following two simple and logical rules: 1) what the team needs right now 2) best player remaining in the draft.

Let's start things off with arguably the worst kept secret in the Filipino basketball community-- Junmar Fajardo being drafted first by the Petron Blaze Boosters. Is he the best player on the list? No. Does he deserve to go number 1? No.

But he will, and he should. 6"9 guys don't just fall off trees, specially a guy who has international experience and actually plays defense and rebounds first before thinking about scoring. Oh, and the guy has actual, ripped bicep muscles-- something you can't say about Ateneo's 6"11 wonder kid Greg Slaughter.


1. Petron Blaze Boosters - Junmar Fajardo
This one's a no-brainer. There's a reason why Fajardo didn't throw his hat into the 2012 PBA draft outright following a so-so ASEAN Basketball League campaign. Team San Miguel had a 66% chance of acquiring the Top Pick while the Aces had a slim 33% chance (thanks to the wonders of the PBA Lottery)-- this was seen too big a risk by Noli Eala et al, so they waited until the last minute to give the Cebuano giant the go signal. Fajardo quickly fixes the Boosters' frontcourt problems with aging Danny Ildefonso and Dorian Pena not as effective as years back. With Fajardo as the anchor, Arwind Santos, Alex Cabagnot, Jay Washington, Marcio Lassiter and Chris Lutz can pretty much run the floor and not worry about being beaten on the boards.

2. Alaska Aces - Cliff Hodge
A versatile wing who was downright scary in the PBA-Development League. Hodge's game is still raw at best, depending solely on his God-given athleticism, height and speed. He's improved a lot, but needs  to develop a jumper to be considered a real threat on the floor. Lacks any post game, is in the mold of Jay Washington and Kelly Williams during their formative years in the pros.

3. Petron Blaze Boosters - Calvin Abueva

BeAst player of the draft

The Beast! At a generous 6"3, Abueva will be reunited with San Sebastian coach Ato Agustin (that is, if he hasn't been given the boot and replaced by Rajko Toroman) which is a good thing character-wise. On the floor however, there's just no room for him on the Boosters' stacked roster. Lutz, Lassiter and Yeo are all at SG, Santos and Washington are battling it out for SF-PF, so where are you going to put a rookie with loads of talent but also needs the ball to be effective? We can only pray that Abueva doesn't end up like another NCAA superstar, Gabby Espinas, who held so much promise but was reduced to a bit player-- also at San Miguel/ Petron.

4. Meralco Bolts - Chris Ellis
Another raw yet top notch athlete, Ellis will provide the Bolts with another versatile wing although skills-wise, he's going to play as Mark Macapagal/ Mark Borboran's chief back-up. Needs to develop a consistent jumper, put on some PBA playing weight and improve his handles. Expectations will be low on Ellis, but fortunately for him he's going to play alongside scorers Mac Cardona and Sol Mercado who will take the pressure off the wiry Fil-Am.


5. Barako Bull Energy - Alex Mallari 
The Energy are out of, well, energy. That's why a spitfire wing like Mallari could pay huge dividends for the struggling franchise saddled by proud yet aging veterans. Drawing comparisons with Talk 'n' Text's Jarred Dillinger, Mallari showed everyone that he has the scoring prowess suited for any PBA team. Hell, just ask the NLEX boys in the PBADL who were tasked to lock him down in the Finals but couldn't keep him from scoring 20 points or more. Sadly, after leading the Energy in scoring in the first conference, Mallari will be traded to a San Miguel team by the mid-2013.

6. Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings - Dave Marcelo
Eric Menk is old. Kerby Raymundo is aging fast. Rico Villanueva still can't figure out how to use his size and talents in the paint. Billy Mamaril, is, well, serviceable at best. Marcelo, just like Fajardo for the Boosters, is the big man that the Gin Kings need to stay in the game. At a bruising 6"5, the former NCAA Finals MVP would help create a monstrous tandem with Villanueva in the paint to backstop the Gin Kings' bevy of scorers. This kid knows his role on the floor (enforcer/ rebounder) and will have no problems ceding shots to his veterans.

Best big man

7. Rain or Shine Elastopainters - Vic Manuel
Match made in Yeng Guiao heaven. Arguably the most polished big man to join the PBA draft since, well, Jonn Ferriols. Has the size, muscles and footspeed to play the post. A monster on offense and defense. At 6"4, Manuel would be a dream to pair with burly Beau Belga at the post. A scrappy, superstar-type power forward akin to the Danny Ildefonsos, Victor Pablos and Dennis Espinos of the 90s. Oh, and last time we checked, there are only two legit amateur season MVPs on this list. Abueva and this guy.

8. Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings - Aldrech Ramos
Because there's still so much potential seen in Ramos. Despite a disastrous ABL run in which he couldn't live up to his "franchise" billing earlier in the season. With the Gin Kings, Ramos will learn to pattern his game after the guy he could best become: Kerby Raymundo. Hopefully, Mark Caguoia puts him on the same diet as he had and Ramos puts on some needed PBA weight. That, or it will be back to the ABL for him in no time.

9. B-Meg Llamados - JR Cawaling
JC Intal is a great athlete and on-and-off scorer. Cawaling isn't as quick or athletic, but has the same build, size and better defensive instincts. Cawaling, unlike Intal, also knows how to play off the basketball and not force the action. Cawaling is also a pretty low-radar shooter who can knock down shots when open. In a perfect world, he'd be the small forward that Coach Tim Cone has been dreaming of playing alongside SG James Yap.

10. Powerade Tigers - Keith Jensen
Jensen is either Danny Seigle part 2, or a 6"5 James Walkvist from what this writer has seen so far. A big man with a soft touch, Jensen's skillset will earn him a first round pick. Problem with him is, he doesn't have the heart to supplant Sean Anthony at small forward or the strength to play alongside Rabeh al Hussaini as a stretch four.

Sleepers:

Lester Alvarez

While some people are lost in the belief that Eman Monfort is the best PG in the amateurs because of the titles he's won with THEE AHRENEYOE, it's Alvarez who is arguably the best at the spot today. At 5"8, Alvarez will be at a disadvantage against opposing PGs but what he lacks in height he makes up for in speed and floor leadership. The guy has that natural PG instinct ala L.A. Tenorio-- knows when to score, speed it up or slow it down all without having to look at his coach and wait for orders. This guy will open a lot of eyes.

Jerrick Canada
If there's one other local point guard who has so much promise, then that would be none other than Alvarez' Adamson Falcons' backcourt buddy Canada. This guy was pretty solid in the UAAP before "graduating" to the ABL and helping stabilize and lead the Indonesia Warriors all the way to the title. While Fil-Am Stanley Pringle had a lot of say in that title run, Canada was the one guy who kept his team always in control.

Nabong: cross between
Mark Yee and Marc Pingris

Garvo Lanete
If Yousif Aljamal and Pong Escobal could make it, then more-so a guy who can actually shoot the basketball and has the size to play his position in the pros (Escobal being a tall yet slow PG and Aljamal an undersized power forward). Expect Lanete to end up with an MVP team, taken in the 2nd round and provide a live body who could prove to be useful when need be.

Kelly Nabong
Pag napunta si Nabong sa Rain or Shine, putangina. Alam na.

If you were Petron, who'd you pick number one overall?