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| Ginebra fans should be on the lookout for this kid (Photo credit to the owner) |
In our honest opinion, this year's draft has a lot of promise and potential but not much of the PBA ready superstars. There seems to be a lack of Paul Lee-like sleepers, the Gilas cadets look more like serviceable role players than future stars and even the projected number one pick, 6"7 Fil-Tonggan Moala Tautuaa, hasn't really dominated the amateurs in a way that Asi Taulava, Eric Menk, Rommel Adducul and even Jervy Cruz did moving up the ranks-- which is big, considering we live in a day and age wherein everyone just about blows everything out of proportion.
1. Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters (from Blackwater) - Moala Tautuaa, 6"7
For all good things about Troy Rosario, how he's improved and made the most of the chances given him since breaking into the spotlight by way of the UAAP Finals (SEAGames, FIBA 3x3), we have a feeling that the Texters will find it rather difficult to pass on a specimen like Tautuaa. Between the two, Tautuaa is the more polished offensively though quite lacking in range. He is basically a heftier, full-bearded Kelly Williams (who is out with an MCL injury btw)-- not a center per se, but a strong presence in the paint who can run and cover a lot of ground on both ends of the court.
2. Mahindra Enforcers/ Kia Carnival - Troy Rosario, 6"7
If Coach Manny Pacquiao has proven one thing last season, it's that he is not in the league as a mere "joke." They competed quite well in the last two conferences behind the coaching brilliance of lead assistant Chito Victolero, and it only makes pure basketball sense to go for Rosario and pair him-- pick and roll, pick and pop, with point guard L.A. Revilla whose stock should be on the rise for next season.
3. Rain or Shine Elastopainters - Art dela Cruz, 6"3
No Tautuaa, no Rosario. Too high to pick a project like Torres, who isn't a walking double-double machine ever. There might be some problems with dela Cruz, since he is coming in as an under-sized power forward which the team already has in Jervy Cruz (who almost, always has a solid Philippine Cup), but if dela Cruz can move his feet a bit, he can be used in a role similar to former Guiao stalwarts Ronnie Matias and Larry Rodriguez.
4. Meralco Bolts - Garvo Lanete, 6"1
With Jimmy Alapag reportedly set to join the Bolts' camp, there is less of an urgent need at the point position so Coach Norman Black can go for Lanete who is arguably the best marksman of the 2015 PBA Draft pool. What's nice about Lanete is that while he can keep shooting those 3s as a future heir to Gary David, he can also take his time learning the ropes of playing full time point guard from Alapag (which he did a few times during his stint with Gilas).
5. Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (from Barako Bull) - Scottie Thompson, 6"0
A big guard who can score, pass AND rebound you say? Coach Tim Cone doesn't always go for rookies, but it would be quite hard for him to pass up on Thompson considering that Mark Caguioa's getting old, Sol Mercado's jumpshot has always been broken and Jayjay Helterbrand just said that this may be his final year in the PBA. An L.A. Tenorio, Thompson, Chris Ellis, Japeth Aguilar and Greg Slaughter starting five does look Triangle sexy IMHO.
6. NLEX Road Warriors - Baser Amer, 5"10
Manna from heaven if you ask Coach Boyet Fernandez. There's no point in trying to wait for if and when Jonas Villanueva gets healthy, so the team might as well look into moving forward with a young point guard who has both smarts and range.
7. Meralco Bolts - Chris Newsome, 6"2
Another interchangeable piece for Coach Norman Black who can take his time learning the ropes from the likes of Gary David, Jared Dillinger and Sean Anthony. Newsome can be that 2nd unit's leader, alongside Ateneo buddy Ryan Buenafe. Hell, if Rabeh Al Hussaini does indeed make a PBA comeback, the Bolts are going to be quite the darkhorse this season.
8. Purefoods Star Hotshots - Norbert Torres, 6"6
Jason Webb is going to open the Hotshots' offense and have them running and gunning. To do that, he'll need a rebounder or at least someone who looks like he can rebound. He doesn't need a lot on the floor, so he can make do with Pingris at the five. Then Torres in bursts. They can play together when matched up against Junemar Fajardo or Greg Slaughter.
9. Blackwater Elite (from Talk'n'Text) - Roi Sumang, 5"8
The team is set to acquire Mike Cortez and James Sena, and just recently added Carlo Lastimosa. All solid players, but no firepower whatsoever. Sumang addresses the Elite's lack of perimeter scoring all by his lonesome. He'll pretty much be the shot in the arm for the Elite that his fellow Lawrence Chiongson stablemate Paul Lee was for Rain or Shine. Only problem we see here is if Reil "KOBE!" Cervantes will share the ball and wait his turn on offense.
10. NLEX Road Warriors - Maverick Ahanmisi, 6"2
Wyne Arboleda. Jonas Villanueva. Rudy Lingganay. Those are last season's point guards for Coach Boyet Fernandez. We went with Amer early, so now we're going with Ahanmisi who can run an offense, and at 6"2 has the size and handles to convert himself into an attack guard in the PBA. Basically, Amer and Ahanmisi would give Coach Boyet the closest thing to his old Santa Lucia backcourt of Denok Miranda and Ryan Reyes.
11. Alaska Aces - Glenn Khobuntin, 6"4
Eric Menk displaced Gabby Espinas last season. But how long will his legs hold up? Nonoy Baclao was nice in the Finals sure, but the Aces' need to keep adding to their frontline now that most of the guards that they really need are gone. Khobuntin has grit, and if there's anything this new Alaska loves on the floor, it's just that. We'd try Almond Vosotros on the Aces, but do they really need another 5"10 trigger-happy guard?
12. Rain or Shine Elastopainters - Bradwyin Guinto, 6"6
Averaged a double-double in points and rebounds in the import-ruled NCAA. Not a stellar, dominant big man, but pretty solid and has more muscles than the team's best big man 6"7 Raymond Almazan. Guinto doesn't have the range as Almazan, Beau Belga and JayR Quinahan, so we fully expect him to play inside for Yeng Guiao. Nice thing about him is that, he's a willing banger down low and doesn't mind handing our hard, "playoff" fouls.
Sleepers:
Aljon Mariano (true sleeper, if he gets his shit together he can contribute right away), Kevin Racal, Mark Cruz, Almond Vosotros, Ryan Wetherell
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