PBA Dispersal Draft: Blackwater Elite

Back to main man status for Nuyles?
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

The Blackwater Elite are here to compete.

Coach Leo Isaac and co. went into the PBA Dispersal Draft with clear direction and purpose, opting to tab names who are ready to contribute and make a name for themselves in the PBA (if they haven't already).

Drafted by the Elite are: Danny Ildefonso, Alex Nuyles, JR Cawaling, Eddie Laure, Bryan Faundo, JP Erram, Paul Artadi, Gilbert Bulawan, Bambam Gamalinda, Chris Timberlake, Norman Gonzales and Bobby Celiz.

Based on the names above, our projected starting five are: PG Artadi SG Nuyles SF Cawaling PF Faundo C Ildefonso

Having a 2x PBA Most Valuable Player in Ildefonso is going to pay dividends for the Elite, be it on the hardcourt or in the locker room. The former San Miguel Beerman proved last season that there's still some fight left in the tank which the Elite could and would benefit from in their initial salvo. Artadi has always been a solid court general, when not baited or dared to shoot the basketball (which has always been his Achilles heel). Faundo will provide the Elite with a solid weak side operator to work opposite Ildefonso in the post, so those three guys are about as good a veteran foundation as you can get.

Which brings us to the thoroughbreds Nuyles and Cawaling.

Theoretically, and if things pan out the way we'd envisioned, the two could be molded into a Michael Jordan-Scottie Pippen type of duo. Not in the sense that they're as good as the NBA icons, but in the way that their games, even at the moment, complement one another.

Cawaling, initially picked by the San Mig Coffee Mixers last season before being released to the Dispersal Draft, is a 6"5 small forward who is more system player than star. An established set shooter and perimeter defender, he will have a legit shot in the pros by way of the Elite. Though he lacks the on court explosiveness (arguably the biggest reason why he couldn't crack the Mixers' scorer/ wing rotation of James Yap, PJ Simon, Allein Maliksi and Alex Mallari), he should be able to make a good account of himself when given enough time on the court.

Nuyles on the other hand is a natural born scorer, mostly via slashing to the hoop in the amateur ranks. He had a difficult time adjusting with the Rain or Shine Elastopainters' free-flowing offense. Some guys are comfortable off the ball, others, like Nuyles, aren't. With the Elite, the way it's constructed through the Dispersal Draft, there's no other perimeter option than Nuyles which should play into the sophomore's strengths. He'll be one of Coach Leo Isaac's most trusted with the basketball, and his biggest weakness- outside shooting, will be covered for by fellow young blood Cawaling.

There are still some holes to fill on the roster such as looking for someone to spell Ildefonso and maybe another scoring option outside of Nuyles and Cawaling. We're not entirely sold on Artadi's back up Timberlake, who has been a huge disappointment thus far in the PBA after a stellar PBL run.

How high/ low do you think will the Elite finish in the PBA Philippine Cup?