PBA 2012 Draft: The Do-Over

What if teams were able to make a do-over?
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

And so we have come to the (near) end of another great professional basketball season for Philippine hoops: the country (behind some of its best, pro-players) was able to re-establish itself as a contender in the region, all the concerned basketball parties are in (or at the very least, seem to be) in unison and new names have come out of the collegiate and amateur ranks that will carry the winning tradition and proud Filipino fighting heart for the next decade or so.

Here we rank the 2012 PBA Draftees (1st round plus some promising names) based on how well they have performed this season (and going forward) vis-a-vis the team that should've/ could've picked them if they were able to go back in time. 

1 Petron - Calvin Abueva 

51 g 26.41 m 12.25 p 9.37 r 1.82 a 

The numbers, the minutes, the intensity-- it speaks for itself. At a modest 6"1 1/2 we dare you to name us anyone of the same height the last five years who can put up the same numbers AND change the tempo/ mood/ feel of the game simply by checking in OFF THE BENCH. As loaded as Petron is, you just cannot argue with talent and heart. You don't pass up on a guy like this, you make room for him and trade away the others to fill in whatever hole you have. Yeah. The Beast is here to stay, ROY-MVP or not.

2012 PBA Draft pick order: 2nd, Alaska

2 Alaska - Junemar Fajardo 

36 g 24.33 m 11.03 p 8.31 r 0.47 a

The Kraken isn't a game changer- not yet that is. Most big men don't get it right away (unless you're named Benjie Paras and the year is 1989 where locals over 6"6 was unheard of), with Fajardo, it's been a slow (and painful) learning curve. He got hurt early in the season, but has put in the work to show that he will be a force in the middle for years. Fajardo patrolling the paint for Alaska would be mind-boggling, since it gives them the league's biggest and baddest frontline with Sonny Thoss being his high post buddy.

2012 PBA Draft pick order: 1st, Petron

3 Petron - Clifford Hodge 

45 g 27.11 m 9.91 p 6.47 r 0.96 a

Again, we're going with talent over chemistry. If you can load up on promising talent, then go for it-- if only because you also have a bunch of superstars who can demand great trade value in the market to fill in the gaps. A starting unit of Alex Cabagnot, Chris Lutz/ Marcio Lassiter (pick one) Calvin Abueva, Arwind Santos and Cliff Hodge would be crazy and the fulfillment of every basketball video game player's dream.

2012 PBA Draft pick order: 4th, Meralco

4 Meralco - Chris Ellis

52 g 26.27 m 8.08 p 4.63 r 1.4 a

Pretty much anything and everything you want from Hodge today only in a more potent, explosive package. Having Ellis on board would allow and ignite the Bolts' offense and could push the rookie into "Main Man" status just like he did in the D-League.

2012 PBA Draft pick order: 6th, Ginebra

5 Barako Bull - Vic Manuel

36 g 17.86 m 8.06 p 4.14 r 0.50 a

At the time, Barako just acquired Rico Villanueva in hopes of having the bruising power forward relive his glory days. Other than that, they were stuck with the aging duo of Mick Penissi and Danny Seigle who are outside, finesse bigs at best. Manuel has shown a knack for not shying away from big game moments- or big shots. 

2012 PBA Draft pick order: 9th, San Mig Coffee

6 Ginebra - Emman Monfort 

12 g 27.75 m 9.08p 2.33 r 5 a 

You know how fans have been ranting for a younger backup for Jayjay Helterbrand which came by way of L.A. Tenorio to start the season? Well, Ginebra still has the same problem up to this day (despite the presence of Josh Urbiztondo). Their one-on-one, guard-oriented offense suffers whenever Tenorio sits or reigning PBA MVP Mark Caguioa isn't "on." Enter the pint-sized Monfort who has no problems scoring or distributing the ball in limited to heavy minutes.

2012 PBA Draft pick order: 16th, Barako Bull

7 Rain or Shine - Alex Mallari 

42 g 18.57 m 5.29 p 2.69 r 1.55 a

Alam mo yung tapang na hinahanap natin kay Mallari nung asa Petron sya at "medyo" nagpapakita nung nalipat sya sa SMC? Ipahawak mo kay Yeng Guiao yan ng isang taon, tingnan natin kung hindi maging barumbado yan.

 

2012 PBA Draft pick order: 3rd, Petron

8 Ginebra - Jason Deutchman 

28 g 18.18 m (gp) 5.64 p 4.54 r 0.50 a

Deutchman has the size, range and handles to play with the 2nd team of any PBA squad. Give him a few more years under his belt and the ceiling would be somewhere around Tony de la Cruz (range and height, we're holding out on Deuthcman's D for now) or even a Mike Hrabak. Given Ginebra's then short frontline, Deutchman would've been a great addition specially with his range from deep. 

2012 PBA Draft pick order: 10th, GlobalPort

9 San Mig Coffee - Yousef Taha

37 g 11.65m 2.51p 4.05 r 0.68 a

The frontline needs to get bigger, stronger and most of all-- younger. Other than Marc Pingris, you're looking at finesse player Joe DeVance plus a surprlus of aging bigs in Yancy de Ocampo, Rafi Reavis and whoever Tim Cone manages to pull from free agency. Think of Taha as a traditional power forward/ center who concentrates on playing defense and rebounding-- a big plus given the number of volume shooters on the SMC roster.

2012 PBA Draft pick order: 11th, Air21

10 GlobalPort - Chris Tiu

42 g 17.29m 5.98 p 2.38 r 2 a

Because Tiu, the reigning PBA 3 point king, can sell tickets and fill up half of the Araneta Coliseum. And having him AND BJ Manalo (team manager) on the same bench is every single female college basketball fan's wet dream that bridges two separate eras.

2012 PBA Draft pick order: 7th, Rain or Shine

Should've been higher than original pick

Kelly Nabong 

20 g 13.95 m 4.6 p 4.15 r 0.25 a

Wow. What could've been had RoS kept the Nabong pick. We're looking at the return of hard-nosed, break-your-face, no blood no foul Yeng Guiao basketball in today's flashy, "sportsmanship" era. Nabong has proven to be a serviceable enforcer who is quick on his feet (like a raw Pingris). Should've gone higher in our books.

2012 PBA Draft pick order: 17th, Rain or Shine

Should've been lower than original pick

Keith Jensen

31 g 12.55 m 3.06 p 2.06 r 0.48 a

We actually like Jensen and feel that he just needs to be put in a winning situation wherein he can display his talents. He has range, he has the body for the pros and can even show some nice handles from time to time (a step or two slow though). His defense, in the spotty minutes we've seen, are laughable, but on offense he's quite solid. Just needs to find a niche in the pros.

2012 PBA Draft pick order: 8th, Ginebra

Aldrech Ramos 31g 7.65m 3.13 p 1.23r 0.10a

We called it since day one. Ramos is, rather unexplainably, all hype. He has the look of a basketball player, the height, the range-- but he lacks the fire. Pretty sure he's a good guy off the court, but in the pros you have to bring a little bit of nasty-- just look at Dylan Ababou and Chris Tiu (off court angels, but rugged defensive players on court).

2012 PBA Draft pick order: 5th, San Mig Coffee