PBA Dispersal Draft: Kia Motors

Manny Knows.
Photo courtesy of Rappler.com

When it was announced over the grapevine that world boxing icon Manny Pacquiao was going to try his luck in the PBA as a possible playing coach, we dismissed it as a publicity stunt more than anything. We were not worried because we fully expect Pacquiao to serve as token team mascot/ crowd drawer while Kia Motors gets its feet wet in the pros.

We were not worried because while no one will ever confuse Pacquiao for Talk 'n' Text star Jayson Castro or newly-minted Grand Slam San Mig Coffee head coach Tim Cone, we knew that Pacquiao and Kia would probably get the best available names to form a competitive line-up come the PBA's 40th season.

Well, we're not so sure about that any more.
In today's PBA Dispersal Draft, Kia Motors chose: Reil Cervantes, Mike Burtscher, Hans Thiele, Alvin Padilla, Jai Reyes, Paul Sanga, Pamboy Raymundo, Eder Saldua, Nic Belasco, LA Revilla, Joshua Webb and Chad Alonzo.

Here's our projected starting five for the Kia Motors: PG Pamboy Raymundo SG Alvin Padilla SF Paul Sanga PF Mike Burtscher C Reil Cervantes

It's. Going. To. Get. Ugly.

Raymundo is a tough as nails point guard who is a non-threat on the offensive end. Cervantes had a good run in his return to the D-League after being drafted by Ginebra a few years back (and traded in the same season on his way out of the pros). Burtscher has the tools to be one of those Rudy Hatfield energy guy types. Padilla and Sanga, because of their resumes as solid snipers in college, will be asked to carry the brunt of the offense until help arrives by way of free agency, draft or import.

Kia Motors assistant coach Glenn Capacio went with his FEU guys in Cervantes and Sanga, while throwing in DLSU mutt and jeff combo LA Revilla and (oh my Lord) Joshua Webb.

The pool that they decided to build comes off as a bit of a head scratcher, since names like Ronnie Matias, Larry Rodriguez, Bonbon Custodio and a couple more names were left on the table. Why they didn't opt for those guys, well, who knows what transpired in that closed door PBA Dispersal Draft?

Maybe Pacquiao wanted to field a team that's somewhere near his basketball level. So you know, he doesn't look THAT bad of a basketball player and guys would actually defer to him in games.