2017 PBA Mock Draft 2.0

Number 2? Or Number 1?
(Photo credit: Inquirer.net)

12. TNT - Louie Vigil, SF, 6"3
A bit under-rated, Vigil is a legitimate PBA 3 who can play both ends of the court. In college, he has shown that he can fill in the gaps when asked to defer to his superstar seniors AND also step up to plate as team alpha. TNT just hasn't been the same since they dealt Larry Fonacier and blindly expected Matt Ganuelas Rosser to fill in that void (they traded him for point man RR Garcia which was brilliant). This move also saves Troy Rosario from looking stupid trying to learn the small forward spot on the fly when he's a natural stretch 4.

11. Barangay Ginebra San Miguel - Julien Sergent, SF, 6"3
Sergent has all the tools that coach Tim Cone just loves to work with; Ginebra doesn't need him to contribute right away, so he can be used as a practice player to help him develop into either a stopper (which he showed flashes of for DLSU) or a finisher around the rim. That small forward practice battle with Aljon Mariano, Kevin Ferrer AND Art dela Cruz should be crazy fun.

10. TNT - Jett Manuel, 6"0
Ryan Reyes is old. UP is Team MVP's latest project. Everything just fits. TNT needs to reload shooter-wise and adding a scorer like Manuel gives them just that.

9. Star Hotshots - Joseph Gabayni, 6"6 
They've been trying to look for a successor to Marc Pingris and Rafi Reavis. Here's attempt number xxx (hi Norbert). If things go as planned, Gabayni should serve as a solid pick-up.

8. Phoenix Fuel Masters (from Meralco) - Rey Nambatac, 5"10

With new head coach Louie Alas in the fold, expect Nambatac's stock to rise a bit owing to their history. Resident starter Jeff Chan is already moving up in age, which will allow Nambatac to quietly earn his spot on the rotation as the team's token 2-way player and potential stopper while Chan and Matthew Wright focus on knocking down threes.

7. Rain or Shine Elastopainters - Lervin Flores, 6"4

Flores is a natural athlete with real wild animal-like power. He could be developed into a defensive powerhouse who can run the break as a very strong finisher. Think Calvin Abueva minus the attitude and dribbling. Could be a great backup/ successor to Gabe Norwood one day.

6. GlobalPort Batang Pier - Jason Perkins, SF, 6"3 
Same. Skills. The fact that he was measured a bit shorter is a bit alarming, somewhere under 6"2, but still, Joe DeVance-like skills (minus the guard abilities) that can play well with ball dominant guards Terrence Romeo and Stanley Pringle.

5. Alaska Aces - Dovonn Potts, SG, 6"2
Same. The Aces need someone to put the basket in the hoop from the perimeter. Simon Enciso isn't that guy. Calvin Abueva will never be that guy. Chris Banchero, thank God, can't shoot the ball as good as he looks (walang perpekto salamat po Ama).

4. Phoenix Fuel Masters - Raymar Jose, PF, 6"4
Same. They need his size, rebounding and spot-up shooting to help spread the floor. Hopefully, he leaves his penchant for being a bit too trigger-happy in the amateurs.

3. Blackwater Elite - Jeron Teng, SG, 6"2
Same. The Face that will run the Place. Sorry, Mac Belo (and fans).

2. NLEX Road Warriors - Kiefer Ravena, SG/PG, 6"0
Same. Too good, too skilled, not to go second. Ravena will basically play the role of a Rain or Shine Paul Lee under head coach Yeng Guiao.

1 . Kia Picanto - Christian Standhardinger, C, 6"8
Same. Here's what we know: Standhardinger is the consensus choice to go number one. What we don't know is if Kia brass is selling him to San Miguel Beer as earlier rumored or if he'll stay put and play for head coach Chris Gavina. Either way, CSH is going first, and we'll all have to wait until April 2018 to see him in the PBA (when the ABL season ends).