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

2013 PBA Draft "Discards" Expansion Team

What might have been for Revilla.
(Photo courtesy of TheLasallian.com)

There are ten teams plying their trade in the Philippine Basketball Association.

Just last year, the league held it's annual PBA Draft wherein bright, young talent were acquired. Some of them were signed to lucrative contracts and have quickly grown to become household names, and then there were those who were not as fortunate.

Come the PBA's 40th Season, the league has agreed to increase their fold by accepting three more teams in NLEX, Blackwater/ Ever Bilena and Kia Motors. This in itself will create more roster spots, nay, jobs for displaced 2013 PBA Draft hopefuls as well as other young (and maybe some old) PBA talent.

Here we try to create a legit 2013 PBA Draft Free Agent basketball team that would only show how deep the pool was or promising some of the unsigned names were. A competitive line-up of young studs who were just unfortunate to have not had the chance to showcase their talents due to already loaded PBA teams.

2014 Philippine Cup Finals Reaction

Now it can be told.

This writer purposely and consciously refrained from updating this blog simply because we chose to be more fan than analyst. Though we provided some with our Finals Preview over at SolarSportsDesk.Ph, nothing beats just taking a step back and appreciating the beauty of the game-- specially when your team (Rain or Shine Elastopainters) is playing the PBA's "glamour boys" (San Mig Coffee Mixers).

It's good versus evil. The handsome hardcourt heartthrobs doing battle against the gillage (gilid of the village) goons The prince pitted against the pauper.

Going into the Finals, we weren't as sold on our chances as some other fans were. They were elated because they felt the Elastopainters had a legit shot at their head coach's, Yeng Guiao's, first-ever All Filipino championship after dominating the standings. We weren't sold because opposite Guiao is head coach Tim Cone and his quest to win "number 16."

Your Bullish Ways

Lastimosa has proven rather solid
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Six games into the PBA Philippine Cup, we can now dismiss any and all alibis and arguments made by the Barako Bull Energy Cola camp as to why they did what they did in the 2013 PBA Draft.

“Win now?”

The Energy Cola are currently on a four-game losing streak, pushing the team to the bottom of the standings with a 2-4 slate—just a win better than sister team Air21 Express. The 2013 PBA rookies that they could’ve landed, namely Terrence Romeo, R.R. Garcia and Nico Salva, are doing wonders for GlobalPort Batang Pier. The names that they got in return are either injured or PBA journeymen/ role players at best.

But still we gave head coach Bong Ramos and his motley crew a chance—a chance to prove themselves after having the misfortune of going to a powerhouse, “dog-eat-dog” team.

Point Blank

Asi is a lot of things for Air21,
but playing point guard is not one of them
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Four games into the PBA Philippine Cup and the somewhat retooled Air21 Express find themselves in familiar territory: 0-4, bottom of the 10-team race.

Despite the key addition/ renewed commitment of "immortal" Asi Taulava and spitfire guard Joseph Yeo (prized off-season recruit Mac Cardona is coming off injury), the Express are struggling to put together solid games (even the "moral victory" ones) and have lost no less than 11 points per outing.

A Tall Order

Two year contract/ showcase
for Mixers' Sangalang
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

The Philippine Basketball Association's (PBA) 39th season is well underway with all teams having debuted in highly-entertaining games, carrying-over from the last season's success. Already cast as title favorites are the crowd-favorites Barangay Ginebra San Miguel who went from being undersized and being the butt of all "security guard" related jokes to Goliaths of the local pro scene with their towering frontline of Japeth Aguilar JayR Reyes and rookie Greg Slaughter.

Though we only have a game to assess the 2013 PBA Draft's top three picks who all play the big man position, we were more or less given a preview of "things to come."

Greg Slaughter, C, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel
36 minutes, 5/9 field goals, 10 points, 13 rebounds, 1 assist, 0 steal, 2 blocks, 1 foul
The number one overall pick is off to a rousing start, looking every inch like the "big man presence" Ginebra has been lacking since Eric Menk fell off the charts due to nagging injuries and veteran acquisition Kerby Raymundo couldn't provide. Truth be told, Slaughter is far from being a polished post player. He's more Zaldy Realubit at the moment than a Dennis Espino. But Ginebra can live with it, given Slaughter's massive 6'11 frame which constantly commands double teams or at the very least-- the help defense to always keep an eye out for any lobs or drop passes which would lead to bunnies. It's going to be hard to convince Slaughter to develop a true post up game, since he'd have to be pitted against guys of equal size to really be pushed to his limits. At the moment, given his nifty touch, Slaughter can easily catch the entry pass (by way of point guard par excellence L.A. Tenorio), face up and shoot over his defenders head. Simple basketball for this guy really until December 25 when he finally meets his rival/ Gilas buddy Junemar Fajardo (or the next conference/s where teams are set to bring in big imports).

The Romance of Terrence Romeo

Rise and tune out the semantics
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

In last Wednesday evening's main game, a GlobalPort Batang Pier rookie decided to make a name for himself. That being said; he didn't make a name by appeasing his many, amateur career haters-- no. He made a name for himself by simply playing the way he has the last few years.

Thy name is Terrence Bill Romeo.

High-octane, fast-paced, fading away, crossover, spin move three, one-on-one, one-on-two... one-on-five basketball. What he gave up on inches, he made up for with grit and a will to win. How many point guards can you name that would nonchalantly drive into the lane and absorb Street Fighter Zangief piledriver style contact from both Junemar Fajardo AND Arwind Santos? He was blocked several times and had his shot altered by Petron Blaze's bloodhounds, but this didn't deter him from who and what he was.

A Necessary Evil

Fan or not, you have to feel for these two
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

At present, there are over twenty names on the Barako Bull Energy roster including their late draft picks Jeric Fortuna, Carlo Lastimosa, Darwin Cordero, Jett Vidal and Mike Silungan not to mention new recruits through draft day trades Denok Miranda, Willie Miller, Magi Sison and Mark Isip.

We’ve considered all angles and arguments for and against this much-maligned franchise which, if it hasn’t been before, has been branded as a clear-as-egg-white “San Miguel Corporation farm team.” We’ve already touched on how this team was a darkhorse contender during its early years in the PBA, now there’s just no denying how it’s only in the league for the best interests not of its players or fans but for its benefactors.

The Kraken Effect

Here’s a question: “how many centers does it take to stop Junemar Fajardo?”

You know, the 6”10 Petron Blaze Boosters’ incoming sophomore center who ran roughshod against any and all defenses in the recently concluded 2013 PBA Governor’s Cup and expected to do even more damage the coming year? The kid who is being mentored by no less than 2x PBA MVP teammate and sure fire, first ballot Hall of Famer Danny Ildefonso?

All 10 PBA teams had this in mind going into the highly successful and entertaining 2013 PBA Draft, with most opting to fortify their frontlines first before adding talent of any kind. This is pretty much how a “project” big men like Isaac Holstein and Justin Chua went ahead of steadier and more accomplished names such as Nico Salva, Jeric Teng and Alex Nuyles among others.

Here we try to break down each team’s “Fajardo Stoppers” going into the 2013-2014 PBA Philippine Cup wherein the Cebuano giant is expected to further solidify his claim to big man greatness.

2013 PBA Draft Results

The Big Men Cometh
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

We will work on the post analysis in a bit, for now we'll borrow some copy from the InterAKTV website because we're simply too lazy to retype the damn thing.

In our honest opinion, all hell broke loose after the "given" Top 3 Picks.

First Round

1. Barangay Ginebra San Miguel – Greg Slaughter
2. San Mig Coffee Mixers – Ian Sangalang
3. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters – Raymond Almazan
4. Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (from Barako Bull) – James Forrester
5. GlobalPort Batang Pier (from Barako Bull via Petron) – Terrence Romeo
6. GlobalPort Batang Pier (from Barako Bull) – RR Garcia
7. GlobalPort Batang Pier – Isaac Holstein
8. Alaska Aces – Ryan Buenafe
9. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters – Alex Nuyles
10. San Mig Coffee Mixers – Justin Chua

Ang Binangga, Nagiba

Parang kelan lang nung unang sumabak ang Barako Bull (Red Bull noon) sa PBA dala ang kakaibang kalibre ng basketball sa pangunguna ni ngayong Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao. Matatapang, pisikal, agresibo at walang takot. Karamihan ng mga player nila hindi kilala at galing kung saan pero walang takot kung makipagsabayan sa mga superstar ng liga. Nauna sila Jimwell Torion, Junthy Valenzuela at Davonn Harp, sumunod ung era ni Enrico Villanueva.

Yun ung Barako Bull na gusto naming balik-balikan sa ilang taong pamamayagpag ng PBA. Hindi yung Barako Bull ngayon na walang bayag. Barako Bull na walang magawa tuwing magkakaroon ng magagaling na manlalaro kapag naglalambing na ang mga "Kuya."

Hindi naman kami tanga, alam naman namin ang kalakaran at naiintindihan ito.

Pero huwag naman sana bastusan.

KKS Scouting Report: 2013 PBA Draft Favorites (Part 2)

Continuing our Scouting Report on the 2013 PBA Draft “Favorites” with the exception of Carlo Lastimosa, SG, 5”10 and James Forrester, SG, 6”0 because, quite frankly, we didn’t know where Destiny Cable put AksyonTV not until maybe three weeks ago. 

And that’s only because we reset our television and put it on auto programming.

In case this is your first time to drop by our page, please feel free to check out Part 1 of our Scouting Report. We're going with the 2013 PBA Draft Favorites-- their Strengths and Weaknesses plus the PBA player that they remind us of (Ceiling would be who or what they could become and Basement would be, well, the basement).

Ryan Roose Garcia 5”9.5

Strengths: gifted with range, made giant leap from shooting guard to point guard, able to play off the ball and defer to superstar teammate/s, solid ball handling skills, heady point guard, savvy, can create own shot 

Weakness: man to man defense, late on switches, average frame might be a problem against stronger guards and fighting through screens, any questions pertaining to his relationship with a former teammate and a famous TV personality

Ceiling: More offensively potent Mark Barroca, minus the stingy defense  

Basement: Shorter RJ Jazul

KKS Scouting Report: 2013 PBA Draft Favorites (Part 1)

Since we’ve already touched on the 2013 PBA Draft: the first rounders, sleepers and which teams they’re most probably/ ideally/ logically going to play for, it’s high time that we take a step back and review the favorites for who and what they are on the basketball court based from what we’ve observed.

And since we have limited information on all 84 applicants, we’re going to offer a scouting report on the “favorites” or pretty much the ones we’ve seen and followed through the boob tube. Here we break down their Strengths and Weakness while also offering a Ceiling and Basement or the CURRENT, ACTIVE PBA Players that each rookie reminds us of (Ceiling being the potential/ high point and Basement being the low point).

Greg Slaughter, C, 6’11”

Strengths: soft touch, great hands, can shoot free throws and 15-17 feet jumpshot, can finish around the rim finesse or force, knows where to receive the basketball, can set sturdy screens

Weakness ( / needs work):  footwork, is essentially slow and lanky as expected of seven footers, lacks explosion, lacks basic back-to-the-basket post-up game, slow on the pick and roll (more of a pick and pop type)

Ceiling: Slightly taller Asi Taulava with range, if he works on his post game can turn into 7”0 Sonny Thoss

Basement: 7”0 Rob Reyes

KKS 2013 PBA Mock Draft Version 3 FINAL

Jeric Teng: What going HAM in the UAAP Finals
on national TV can do to your PBA Draft stock
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

The first time we did this, there were a lot of top-Peso names on the list that we could easily throw out there in any order and no one would've raised an eyebrow or posted a seven-tweet rant calling for our heads (in case you haven't, feel free to follow us on Twitter through @kilikilishot).

When the second version came out, we had an idea more or less of who are going to apply and where they'd land-- 1st or 2nd round. Thanks to an insider whose identity we've promised to keep under wraps (till maybe he himself makes the sports headlines), high profile names such as those of the Gilas Cadets, Chris Banchero and later on Bobby Ray Parks, Jr. have been omitted from our list.

Now, we present to you our FINAL 2013 PBA Mock Draft-- based on what we've heard, read, researched, know and also, on what the other PBA teams (who haven't sent any feelers yet) need going into the next PBA season. 

#KKS2013PBADraft

With the 2013 PBA Draft just around the corner (November 3), we asked some of our friends over at @kilikilishot on Twitter who they think will be drafted in the first round (10 draftees in total).

For everyone's convenience, the draft order is as follows:

1. Ginebra 2. San Mig Coffee 3. Rain or Shine 4. Barako Bull 5. Barako Bull 6. Barako Bull 7. Global Port 8. Alaska 9. Rain or Shine 10. San Mig Coffee

Here are our friends thoughts on the Top 10:

Come Rain or Shine (A Fan Commentary)

Beau Belga or not, Yeng Guiao needs
to take a look at Jervy Cruz in 2014
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

This was supposed to be the year that the Rain or Shine Elastopainters, led by the bullish (he's not as temperamental as before though) Yeng Guiao, were able to break through the glass ceiling.

Why wouldn't they? They were coming off a hard-earned and well-fought for PBA Governor's Cup 2012 championship, three of their starters were "good enough" to crack the prestigious Gilas Pilipinas national team pool and they were going to have the reigning PBA Rookie of the Year Paul Lee back for the season after his debut got cut short by injuries.

KKS 2013 PBA Mock Draft Version 2.2

Ian Sanggalang is going to drop buckets
(Photo courtesy of Sports 5)

With all due respect to the coming PBA Governor's Cup Best-of-Seven Finals match-up between the Petron Blaze Boosters and San Mig Coffee Mixers, we are now officially just a month away from the much-anticipated 2013 PBA Draft headlined by some of the tallest hauls in recent memory.


Since we've already come up with an initial list in an earlier post, we've taken the liberty of revisiting our draft picks and also the draft order. Thanks to our idol @misterjpmanahan for taking care of all the math and figuring out which PBA teams own picks 1 to 10.

Before anything else, we'd like to get a couple of things out of the way.

KKS 2013 PBA Mock Draft Version 1

Please bear with us if our list is a little rough, we're still trying to make sense of all the PBA transactions (which pick was traded to whom, for what, who owns this, who owns that) and are just working around it the best we can. That being said, since we're almost at the end of another magnificent PBA season, it's about damn time to start looking ahead (specially for fans of teams that have no realistic chance of suddenly breaking into the conference finals) and see what's in store.

We'll make about one or two more versions of this 2013 PBA Mock Draft depending on the guys who apply or are deemed eligible. For now, here's our bet for the 1st round Top 10 picks:

1. San Mig Coffee Mixers – Greg Slaughter, 7”0, C
Let’s put it this way, if Tim Cone could make slow-footed, 7”2 E.J. Feihl look like an offensive threat in the late 90s (we’ve never seen him jump high enough to dunk the basketball consistently during his short-lived PBA career), then Slaughter is going to be a force in the pros. The Atenean giant can catch the ball and finish with either hand (over-looked skill these days), always has his hands straight up to contest shots and more importantly, is a willing banger. He’ll also have the luxury of playing alongside a bevy of shooters/ scorers which leaves the paint exclusively to him.

2. Rain or Shine Elastopainters – Ian Sangalang, 6”6, PF/C
While there are those batting for Raymond Almazan, we feel that Yeng Guiao will go with Sangalang—and not just because they’re from the same Northern region. Based on what we've seen so far, Sangalang already trumps his peers and even predecessors with a refined offensive repertoire. He can play inside, outside, has no qualms dribbling end to end and can even stroke it from deep when called upon. Put this guy beside a Beau Belga or JayR Quinahan and you are looking at a Marlou Aquino-Dennis Espino in Santa Lucia kind of pairing that can push RoS to the top right away.