2015 PBA Draft - 1st round Grades

"Here's the ball rook, run with it"
(Photo credit to the owner)

While the mood was unceremoniously subdued by new PBA Commissioner Chito Narvasa's announcement that no trades were to take place in the 2015 PBA Draft proceedings, it was still quite a haul for most PBA teams, the applicants and their followers.

Honestly, this year's draft made the most sense for all the teams involved since most went to address their immediate needs rather than just blindly bobbing for apples. A few surprises/highlights include the Sinag/ Gilas Cadet alumni being picked early, Coach Yeng Guiao's "we need a big/ wing but we'll draft a surprise PG pick anyway just to mess with you mock draft nerds," and above all-- Roi Sumang "dropping" all the way down into the 3rd round after being projected as a possible and legitimate first round talent.

Because the 2015 PBA Draft went all the way down to the 6th (!) round and we, admittedly, have little to no idea about some of the names chosen, we'll stick with handing out grades for the 1st round selections.

1. Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters - Moala Tautuaa
When Tautuaa opted to throw his hat into the PBA D-League last year in hopes of joining the 2015 PBA Draft, TNT basically moved some parts to ensure that they will be able to acquire his services (or Bobby Ray Parks, Jr.'s, who opted not to join). Looking at the 6"7 Fil-Tonggan, it's easy to understand why TNT would go for him at this spot after losing Ali Peek to retirement and now Kelly Williams to injury and Jay Washington to a trade. He looked pretty solid while playing in the ABL and D-League, he has the size, speed and strength to combat any PBA big man, 2x PBA MVP Junemar Fajardo included.
Grade: A

2015 PBA Draft Complete Results

Our heartfelt congratulations to the following amateur standouts who were selected in the recently concluded 2015 PBA Draft.

2015 PBA Draft 1st pick overall
Moala Tautuaa - Talk n Text
(Photo credit to the owner)

View the full list of draftees and which team they went to here:

Talk'n'Text Tropang Texters
1.1 Moala Tautuaa (PF)
3.9 Michole Sorela (C)
4.7 Joshua Cobillo (SG)
5.5 Emilian Vargas (SG)

Mahindra Enforcers 
1.2 Troy Rosario (PF)
2.2 Bradwyn Guinto (C)
3.2 Leodaniel de Vera (SF)
4.2 Michael Vincent DiGregorio (SG)
5.2 Alexander Austria (SG)

Small moves, new beginnings

Still waiting for Jervy to live up
to his Baby Patrimonio potential
(Photo credit to the owner)

Finally, a couple of PBA off-season deals that we could write about!

Who would've thought that it would be the GlobalPort Batang Pier squad of Boss Mikee Romero doing all the wheeling and dealing off/ pre-season? And no, it's not to serve at any of the two giant corporation's pleasure even but to actually try and continue building a legitimate darkhorse contender for the coming season.

There are rumors however that this is only the beginning, and that more trades will follow suit. No worries, the more trades and transactions there are going into next week's 2015 PBA Draft, the more copies we can write, rave and rant about!

Tuloy ang ligaya kahit off-season!

Jervy Cruz to GlobalPort, Jewel Ponferada + 2015 PBA Draft 2nd round pick to Rain or Shine

2015 PBA Mock Draft V 4.0

Ginebra fans should be on
the lookout for this kid
(Photo credit to the owner)

Before the official list of 2015 PBA Draft applicant is made public, reportedly next Monday, we are revisiting our mock draft with what we hope is the final and true order (all things considered). We already know that some prized names such as 2x UAAP Most Valuable Player Bobby Ray Parks, Jr., his rival Kiefer Ravena, and even promising big man Arnold Van Opstal will hold out for another year.

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.

Life at the crossroads

Is Almazan the future for RoS?
(Photo credit: Sports5.Ph)

Before we begin, we would like to share with you a piece of trivia from Takehiko Inoue's Slam Dunk manga about a team that made it into the Inter-High competition. No, we will not touch on Shohoku's triumphs but rather the team that they first faced in the IH-- Toyotama.

In the series, Toyotama is a rough and tough team from the Osaka prefecture. They were known for their run and gun offense, which helped them through the years with previous head coach Kitano Jiei. Problem is, making it into the Inter High and finishing in the Top 8 was as high as the team could go for years and years until Coach Jiei was removed in favor of a defensive minded coach.

Let's stop with the trivia right there, and switch to real life, PBA action.

The Rain or Shine Elastopainters under head coach Yeng Guiao has continued to be quite the competitive squad in the PBA. They've made at least 1 PBA Finals appearance in the last three or four seasons, and have almost always finished deep in the Playoffs before bowing out to some Team SMC/ MVP super group. They employ a run and gun strategy, anchored on hard-nosed rough and tough defense but not the Xs and Os type.

2015 PBA Draft: Team Needs

Who needs who?
(Photo credit: Interaksyon.com)

While we await the winner of the PBA Governor's Cup Finals Best-of-Seven series between the Alaska Aces and San Miguel Beermen to formally end the league's 41st season, here's a picture of what we can expect come the 2015 PBA Draft.

Based on how the teams fared this season, we already have a working idea of who-picks-where for the coming draft. Some names have already announced their intent (primarily highly touted 6"7 Fil-Tonggan Moala Tautuaa), while some names are still playing in minor leagues both locally and internationally (keep doing what you're doing Bobby Ray!).

Now the fun part: do teams go for "best available talent" or do they address specific "team needs?"

Here's how we think the teams will approach the 2015 PBA Draft, based on their overall performance this season and who they should be looking out for:

PBA GC SF: (2) San Miguel vs (3) Rain or Shine

JMF and AZ are going to be
tough to handle in the paint for RoS
(Photo credit to Sports5.Ph)

In-season na ba magtanim ng strawberries?

Here's the deal: Rain or Shine lost to San Miguel, 91-104, in the eliminations despite having awesome performances from Wendel McKines (19 points, 10 rebounds), Jericho Cruz (11 p), Gabe Norwood (12 p) JR Quinahan (12 p) AND Paul Lee (17 p 6 r 3 assists). How did the Beermen do it? Arizona Reid (36 p 11), Junemar Fajardo (22 p 18 r) and a little bit of everything from everyone else.

That was in the Eliminations. When Marcio Lassiter was being hounded by trade rumors and wasn't at his very best. Now? We just saw Lassiter mercilessly drill three ball after three ball to bury the Meralco Bolts and lead the team into this very same Semifinals match that we're trying to break down.

Sure, RoS has Jeffrei Chan back. But what and who is a three-point specialist like Chan when compared to a two-way player like Lassiter (IMHO arguably the best today)?

As an RoS fan, please let us speak in a more honest tone for this "analysis."

PBA GC QF: (3) Rain or Shine vs (6) Barako Bull

Belga ain't got no time for that
(Photo credit to Sports5.ph)

So much for the JC Intal two-week love-fest.

Since Intal, Dylan Ababou and later Joseph Yeo all took turns winning the PBA Governor's Cup Best Player of the Week award, Barako Bull Energy has stagnated somewhat losing most of their last games which cost them the twice to beat incentive. For some inexplicable reason, a team that looked like it had the league's best defense anchored by the most dominant presence in the PBA today (Liam McMorrow) complimented by young and hungry talent, basically fizzled out and lost sight of the big picture (making the Playoff; winning a title).

Yeo has slowed down. Intal has disappeared. Ababou is back to playing spot minutes.

Yep, same old Barako Bull.

Which doesn't bode well going up against a now in-tune Rain or Shine Elastopainters that has finally learned to play with a legitimate post-up threat in import Wendell McKines.

2015 PBA Mock Draft V 3.0

Come at me, bro.
(Photo credits to spin.ph)

Will Bobby Ray Parks, Jr. fulfill his NBA dreams? Or will he be forced to "settle" for this side of the world's oldest play-for-pay basketball league? Is Moala Tautuaa really that good? What if Troy Rosario ends up being the same player as one former UAAP All Star Kelvin Gregorio?

Ladies and gentlemen, here is the third version of what is starting to look more and more like a thin 2015 PBA Draft field (talent-wise). This time, we are going with "what the team needs right now" over the "best available talent" thinking to fill out the rest of the First Round.

12. Rain or Shine Elastopainters - Glenn Khobuntin, 6"4
Tailor-made for Yeng Guiao, fits the new RoS "TV friendly faces" image that the team has come to embrace the last two seasons. Perimeter big in the mold of old wards Ronnie Matias and Larry Rodriguez, though not as skilled.

11. Blackwater Elite (from Talk'n'Text) - Maverick Ahanmisi, 6"2
This team desperately needs a go-to-guy. There's that Ryan Wetherell cat and all the hype about him while playing in Vince Hizon's FBA... but if the UP MBT could win a legitimate basketball title over there the way their roster is right now...

Dear Beau

(Photo courtesy of Sports5.ph)

Idol, kamusta ka na?

Sana mabuti ang kalagayan mo matapos yung matinding bugbugan nung nakaraang PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals. May dinadaing ka ba na injury? Nagiba kasi yung laro mo matapos yung Ginebra SMASH game. Parang lumugar ka lang bigla ulit, nawala yung idol namin. Papitik pitik, pasundot sundot, pero halos hindi naramdaman. Sa Finals? Habang naghahari yung pagkalaki laking import ng TNT at minamama yung mga kakampi mo, ikaw yung inaasahan ng Bayan ng RoS na reresbak para sa amin.

Pero asaan ka ba nun?

Team #NSD

(Photo credits to the owner)

So it's a Friday weekend (here in the Middle East anyway) and we are catching up on our steady dose of Upper B basketball talk (if you haven't already, please checkout buhaybasket.com which is basically the new/ another version of FTS or Bro Show or Goat or whatever only a lot more entertaining whenever Jai Reyes is given air time). On this episode, they were asked by one of their many followers about naming a Team Never-Say-Die first five (minus Ginebra players, of course).

Basically, the names that were mentioned are: Marc Pingris, Paul Lee, Dondon Hontiveros, Cliff Hodge and whichever among Yousef Taha, Jerwin Gaco, Alex Nuyles, etc.

We are not going to say that they were wrong, just that we would probably go another way.

One out of five

#BayanNgRoS

One championship in five tries, that is.

With yesterday's heart-breaking Game 7 loss to eventual PBA Commissioner's Cup titlist Talk'n'Text Tropang Texters, the Rain or Shine Elastopainters are left with an unfortunate dilemma moving forward:

Should they make a trade and possibly break-up the core, or should they keep it together for another try?

PBACC The Finals: Game 7

Walang atrasan.
(Photo credits to Mr Paul Ryan Tan)

First thing's first.

I'm the realest.

No, cross that one out.

What I am, is a proud Rain or Shine fan. I started as a Ginebra fan, thanks to the greatness of Robert Jaworski, Sr., and when he moved on to politics, stayed to the very last of the Marlou Aquino-Bal David-Noli Locsin era (Vince Hizon, always the smartest of the group, flew the coup first, moving over to the MBA via the Iloilo MegaVoltz). After that, I chose to follow Aquino, which I considered as the best of the three, over at Santa Lucia. My decision to switch allegiances was made easier thanks to the presence of fundamentally sound power forward Dennis Espino, and later on the inclusion of PBA MVP Kenneth Duremdes.

When that team folded, I was lost. A basketball fan without a home. Until Yeng Guiao took over the RoS franchise. That's when I started loving the team. Then Paul Lee came into the picture. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Now that I've made all of that clear (if I haven't already on other social pages, come on now), let's move on to the PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals between the Elastopainters and Talk'n'Text Tropang Texters.

PBACC The Finals So Far

Angas ng Tondo
(Photo credits to the owner)

The PBA Commissioner's Cup Best-of-Seven Finals between the Rain or Shine Elastopainters and the Talk'n'Text Tropang Textes has been highly physical thus far in three games, but surprisingly much of the action (and brutality) has come from the once "cookie-cutter" Texters' side of things.

Up two games to one, the Elastopainters have been on the receiving end of some unfortunate hits from Texters' import Ivan Johnson. In Game 1, which they lost 92-99, spitfire backup guard Jonathan Uyloan suffered an injury when he took a hit from Johnson. Last night, it was Paul Lee's turn when he was inadvertently hit by a wayward Johnson elbow right smack on the mouth-- resulting in him losing a tooth and 3 more  that's been pushed back into his gums.

Ouch.

When was the last time we ever heard news of the Texters dishing out pain and physicality towards their opponents? Isn't that the Elastopainters' calling card? Their bread-and-butter? Their actual, field of concentration?

It's going to get ugly from here on out.

PBACC The Finals: Rain or Shine vs Talk'n'Text

The Blur vs Angas ng Tondo
(Photo credits to the owner)

It was but only a matter of time before the Rain or Shine Elastopainters and Talk'n'Text Tropang Texters met anew in a stage as big as the PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals.

And we are not saying that simply because they finished one (RoS) and two (TNT) at the end of the conference's Elimination round. No, we are saying that because of the simple fact that both teams feature the most number of players that were loaned to the Gilas Pilipinas basketball program: Ranidel de Ocampo, Jayson Castro, Larry Fonacier, now team manager Jimmy Alapag and (at one point) Kelly Williams for TNT and Paul Lee, Gabe Norwood, Jeffrei Chan and Beau Belga for RoS.

Which basically means that we will get to see how far the above-mentioned players have come, thanks to the extended, rigorous and taxing international training and exposure that they have all enjoyed. Though TNT enjoys a slight advantage of course, since their brain thrust (coaching staff, managers, scouts, etc.) ARE Gilas Pilipinas.

And though we are proud RoS fans, we will try our very best to breakdown the series and come up with a logical and reasonable fearless forecast.

Let's go:

2015 PBA Mock Draft V 2.0

Top 5 sleeper
(Photo credits to owner)

Remember when we said that it was a bit early to be writing about the 2015 PBA Draft, given the scarcity of names that are sure to apply? Well, we are starting to hear more and more of young, collegiate talent that are foregoing their final UAAP/NCAA years if only to try their luck at the pros (UE's Roi Sumang being the biggest newsmaker to date).

Just bear in mind that the PBA Draft order isn't final (we'll know at season's end) but here's more or less something to work with (thanks to that PBADraft website whose owner I don't know, but props to him/ her).

Let's go.

Make it Rain (or Shine)

He's got the whole world, in his hands
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

While other teams thrive on running complicated sets, system and Xs and Os, it seems as though the Rain or Shine Elastopainters have found a winning formula that appears to be, on paper, simpler:

Familiarity.

You cannot argue with results, as the team is now on the verge of its 5th PBA Finals appearance since head coach Yeng Guiao took over in 2011. The core of the team remains the same: built through high draft picks with the longest tenured being Jireh Ibanes (drafted in 2006) followed by the 2008 pair of Gabe Norwood and TY Tang. After that, they kept building through picks and some under-the-radar trades (they were busiest during the early Guiao years) that has built what is now known as the RoS' brand of basketball.

Fun, fast and physical.

PBACC The Semifinals: Rain or Shine vs Meralco

Powerade Pilipinas reunion, sort of
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

While the other series will be a beautiful case of high-caliber basketball, this one between the Rain or Shine Elastopainters and Meralco Bolts will be a dog fight.

Not because they are not as well-coached as Purefoods and Talk'n'Text, no, but because both teams run a blue collar, smash mouth kind of basketball that is often wild and woozy (yet highly entertaining, specially when Beau Belga forgets his manners or Gary David waxes hot from down town).

But you know what? If they play their cards right, whoever wins this series will most likely be fresher come the PBA Finals since you just know that the other series will take its toll at some point on either Purefoods or TNT not just physically, but mentally.

As long as the Elastopainters/ Bolts can make this series a short one, of course.

PBACC The Quarterfinals: Rain or Shine vs Barangay Ginebra

Angas ng Tondo vs The Spark
(Photo courtesy of Inquirer.net)

For all intents and purposes, there is definitely no love lost in this quarterfinals pairing of the number 1 seeded Rain or Shine Elastopainters, which enjoys a twice to beat advantage, and the 8th seeded Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.

The Elastopainters are the league's hottest team, with arguably the most consistent performance in his young career EVER from star guard Paul Lee, while Ginebra just keep on losing winnable games much to the dismay of their fans. There's also the whole "L.A. Tenorio tantrum watch" -- you know, when the man tasked to lead the Ginebra faithful to glory stomps his foot, makes that stink face and just brushes off everyone on the floor including his own coaches and teammates.

Can Ginebra do it?

Yes, they can.

Will they be able to do it?

The Big Chill

The High Headband
Photo courtesy of Sports5

Beau Belga's now legendary crotch-chopping of thousands of Ginebra die-hards aside, the Rain or Shine Elastopainters' have benefited largely from head coach Yeng Guiao's "gut-feel" to bring back the multi-skilled Wayne Chism to replace burly big man Richard Jackson as their PBA Commissioner's Cup reinforcement.

Though Jackson was quite the force in the paint, helping the Elastopainters to a 3 wins - 2 losses slate, Guiao was always on the lookout for Chism who was unable to start the conference due to prior international commitments. But once Chism was available, Guiao stayed true to his word (reports have it that he told Chism that he'll be back as RoS import despite a so-so 2013 campaign wherein he posted averages of 33.8 mpg, 17.8 ppg, 12.5 rpg, 2.8 apg) to give the high headband-wearing import another chance.

In 3 wins and 1 loss so far, Chism has averaged a stellar 38.7 mpg, 33.5 ppg, 15 rpg, 2.3 apg statline while providing the Elastopainters with whatever is required on the floor. If it's defense, Chism patrols the paint like a natural power forward-center would. On offense, if they need him to play up top and iso, then he can do that with ease and even play point-forward. If the team needs him to play off the ball, then he just goes down into the paint and waits his turn.