2014 PBA Draft 1st Round Rookie Report Card (Part 2)

Born Ready: Kevin Alas
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

On part 2 of our Rookie Report Card, we take a closer look at the Top 5 picks of the 2014 PBA Draft, where they are and where they want/ need to be. Is the race for this season's PBA Rookie of the Year really over? Or are we being led astray because of the discrepancy in minutes per game, the number of touches and other factors?

All statistics gathered from pba-online.net, because pba.inquirer.net doesn't carry the full stats (only the leaders) which is depressing really in this day and age. (Come on guys, you have ONE job.)

5. Chris Banchero, PG, Alaska - B+
18.44mpg 6.11ppg 2.89rpg 1.89apg
Banchero is slowly coming into his own as a PBA player and could arguably be the best, traditional point guard of the whole 2014 PBA Draft class. His size allows for the Aces to play him at SG (even SF) at times with the more offensively-gifted yet forced to share the wealth JVee Casio. Defensively, Banchero has shown tendencies of being a hard-nosed runt despite his White Collar Neil Caffrey, 50 Shades of Grey worthy looks which has obviously won the hearts of his more blue collar teammates Calvin Abueva et. al. At the moment, Banchero's mature game and court vision reminds me a lot of the Lakers era Derek Fisher, maybe minus the lefty three point bombing.

4. Matthew Rosser, SF, Talk'n'Text - A-

28.67 mpg 8.11ppg 6.11 rpg 2.22 apg

The Jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none Rosser is excelling with the team-oriented Texters, being able to help on both sides of the floor with relative and an almost natural ease. While his unorthodox hairstyle and skinny frame seems to be a bit off, he has a high basketball IQ that allows him to get rebounds, play stingy defense and score from his favorite spots. Any coach would love to have Rosser around as he is able to make plays despite not being part of the design. Coach Jong Uichico basically found himself an ultra athletic, acceptable handles, Freddie Abuda-in-the-making.

3. Ronald Pascual, SF, San Miguel Beer - B
16.25mpg 5.25ppg 3.25rpg 0.75apg

We're not going to say that Pascual is a bad player, because he's actually quite solid offensively and some defensively. But we are going to say that San Miguel Beer, for a 3rd pick, didn't really do much to help their cause. Marcio Lassiter, Chris Lutz and Ronald Tubid are still all in their primes collectively (okay, Tubid might be pushing it). Adding Pascual as a safety is okay, but not something the team could've addressed via a trade later on. Rosser could've been awesome. Banchero was logical since they don't have a legit, willing pass-first point guard who can shoot (sorry Chris Ross). Pascual is making the most out of the opportunities given him, but he's being wasted much like how Gabby Espinas once was for the Beermen along with some other names (Joseph Yeo comes to mind).

2. Kevin Alas, SG, Talk'n'Text (from Rain or Shine) - A-
15.11mpg 7.78ppg 2.11rpg 1.56apg

Alas has made the transition from token fearless go-to-guy to court general much like another Gilas standout, JVee Casio. Only difference is, Alas is bigger, stronger, faster and has that killer mentality that Casio seems to only have a switch for (while Alas' is always "ON," just give him the go sign or space on the floor). Will he over take Pringle for PBA ROY? The way things are, and how the Texters run their offense-- he probably won't. He'll still have to fight for his minutes behind the Texters' bevy of elite level point and shooting guards. He'll still have to play and commit to the defensive end being that he's not as big and burly as other PBA 2's (and even some 1's). But make no mistake about it, when called to score or make plays, Alas is arguably the best bet for the Texters to make SMART plays behind captain Jimmy Alapag.

1. Stanley Pringle, PG, GlobalPort - A
33.67mpg 14.78ppg 6.78rpg 4.78apg
He is smart, quick, can shoot threes and doesn't mind all the bump and other contact from defenders. We've yet to see how well he'll do in the PBA Playoffs (we hope he gets there sooner than later), but right now, the way he is, he's already better than the Texters' Jayson Castro who he is often compared to. Castro is more Derrick Rose (speed, power, athleticism) while Pringle has that New Orleans slim-Chris Paul game to him (quick, smart, athletic). Right now, you could argue that Pringle has a lot of freedom to play his brand of basketball which is why he has the numbers that he has BUT you have to appreciate the fact that it takes a lot out of player to perform when paired with ball-dominant guards Terrence Romeo and Alex Cabagnot. Rookie of the Year? Yes, it's definitely Pringle's to lose from here on out. Hopefully, he doesn't get injured or traded mid-season.