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Tiebreaker Times

Grading the 2015 PBA Draft Week


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Thanks to incoming Commissioner Chito Narvasa’s “no trades on the floor” ruling for draft day, last Sunday’s events were largely uneventful. There were hardly any surprises, save for the Ahanmisi pick, which threw everyone’s mock drafts into the trash bin.

Despite the Rain or Shine “shocker”, I’m happy to say that I somehow was able to correctly predict all the first round picks. Honestly, I was surprised, especially since I made the list prior to the no trades ruling.

Now that it’s done and some trades have finally pushed through, it’s time to grade each team’s draft haul and trade transactions. I’ll only be including the main draft picks (First and second rounders, with the occasional latter round picks) as part of my analysis, as most players picked after the first two rounds are just courtesy picks or to fill up training camp slots.

First let’s start with the double-champions the San Miguel Beermen:

San Miguel Beermen2015-Governors-Cup-Champions Grading the 2015 PBA Draft Week  - philippine sports news

Draft Haul: No 1st and 2nd rounders

The Beermen didn’t have any picks in this year’s draft, nor did they look into acquiring one. After winning two championships and their window still very much open, they just don’t have any space or minutes to integrate a first round pick. Just ask last year’s number 3 pick, Ronald Pascual.

‘Why change something that is already working’ must be the San Miguel Beermen staff’s motto right now.

Grade: Incomplete

NEXT: Teams that dropped the ball >>

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Mahindra Enforcers
pba45 Grading the 2015 PBA Draft Week  - philippine sports news

Draft Haul: TROY ROSARIO!
Lost: TROY ROSARIO!
Added: Rob Reyes, KG Canaleta, Aldrech Ramos

I’d give the team an F if I could, but like the Blackwater deal, I’m basing it on the outcome of the draft. That said, they still did a terrible job of getting even decent value for their pick.

Not only did they NOT get the best player in the deal (by far Rosario), they also didn’t get the second best player, Kevin Alas, who eventually went to NLEX. Furthermore, initial rumors were that they were supposed to grab the 10th pick (who belonged to NLEX), which actually turned out to Glenn Khobuntin, but they didn’t get him either. Not that getting Ramos and Khobuntin would have been equal to adding Rosario, but at least they’d get a younger player, whom they would have had to pay less and play defense, as opposed to KG Canaleta who’s entering the backside of his career.

Guinto in the 2nd round is a solid pick, as he was projected to go as high as 8 depending on how the draft panned out.

Still, that doesn’t make up for the fact that we’ve got some downright stupid stuff happening in the PBA right now.

Grade: D

Blackwater Elite

9-PBA-Draft-Art-Dela-Cruz-Blackwater Grading the 2015 PBA Draft Week  - philippine sports news

Multi-titled collegiate star Art dela Cruz goes to Blackwater

Draft Haul: Art Dela Cruz, Almond Vosotros

First of all, this should automatically be an F considering they just sold their pick to Talk N’ Text before last season started. But since we’re grading them on the basis of who they got given their picks, they actually did a good job.

Keep in mind that Blackwater really wanted Ahanmisi with the 9th pick, but thanks to Ahanmisi getting picked at 3, that meant they had to get someone else. Luckily for them, Art Dela Cruz dropped onto their laps. Dela Cruz has a good chance of winning this year’s MVP award in the NCAA, and some mock drafts had him as high as number 3. The big question, though, is whether they’ll keep him, or will he be eventually moved to the MVP group for another pupu platter?

Taking Vosotros at the top of the 2nd round was highly questionable. Vosotros’ has limited upside, as he’s a shooting guard in a point guard’s body. He tried masquerading around as a point guard in last year’s UAAP, but as I’ve pointed out in the past, that didn’t go so well. What Almond has going for him is that he played well for Sinag, as he saved the team with his outside shooting.

Still, I can’t help but feel they could have gotten a better talent at that spot. Enciso was still on board, as well as Wetherell and Sumang. All those guys may not be better than Vosotros, but they do have higher upside at the pro level.

Grade: C

Barako Bull Energy ColaMonfort Grading the 2015 PBA Draft Week  - philippine sports news

Draft Haul: Kris Rosales
Lost: Nico Salva
Added: Emman Monfort, Jens Knuttel, Josh Urbiztondo

Hard to be tough on these guys since the team is basically just a conduit for SMC’s trades. They lost their first round pick due to a prior deal, which eventually went to NLEX (from Ginebra). In addition, with Ginebra’s “need” to unload on their floor generals, they traded Nico Salva, a guy Coach Tim Cone sees potential in, for Monfort, “The Fireball”, and Jens Knuttel.

During the draft, The Energy Cola selected Kris Rosales in the 2nd round and while he’s made a name for himself by landing workouts with NBA teams, he simply hasn’t given Barako fans enough reason to shout “steal of the draft”.

The bigger problem for Barako Bull though is how they can balance the playing time at the point between RR Garcia and the three musketeers?

Grade: C

NEXT: Teams that played if safe >>

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Rain or Shine Elasto Painters

3-PBA-Draft-Maverick-Ahanmisi-Rain-or-Shine Grading the 2015 PBA Draft Week  - philippine sports news

Rain or Shine made a surprise in selecting Maverick Ahanmisi

Draft Haul: Maverick Ahanmisi, Josan Nimes, Don Trollano, Simon Enciso (eventually traded to NLEX)
Lost: Jervy Cruz
Added: Jewel Ponferrada

As mentioned above, the draft took its first major turn when Rain or Shine shocked everyone by getting Ahanmisi at number 3. Reports show that Guiao gave in to the suggestions of his trusted staff instead of drafting guys like Newsome or Torres.

Ahanmisi is still an enigma to fans, as he’s only been playing here for a year. It’s curious though how he’ll fit into Rain or Shine’s crowded backcourt and wing rotation, which already includes Lee, Chan, Norwood, Ibanes, Arana, Uyloan, Tiu and Teng (although he may be traded soon).

Nothing against Ahanmisi, but with a guy like Thompson or Lanete still on board, it seems that those two have higher upside at the moment.

The Elasto Painters weren’t done there though. Instead of shoring up their front line, they got the talented but oft-injured Josan Nimes at 12. Nimes is a great scorer who should thrive in Guiao’s open floor, ball screen heavy offense. However, scoring will never be a problem when you have as deep a lineup as Rain or Shine’s. They still need to find a way to matchup in the interior against the likes of Fajardo, Thoss, and Slaughter. Keep in mind that Bradwyn Guinto was still on board at that point.

Grade: C+

Alaska Aces

11-PBA-Draft-Kevin-Racal-Alaska Grading the 2015 PBA Draft Week  - philippine sports news

Versatile forward Kevin Racal goes to the Alaska Aces

Draft Haul: Kevin Racal, Marion Magat, Jaypee Mendoza, Abel Galligez

Considering that they didn’t have a high draft pick and their “first round pick” was essentially a 2nd rounder, getting Kevin Racal at that spot was a good deal for them. He fits their system to a tee, as he’s a defensive minded player who can give them depth at the wing spots.

What must have hurt was seeing Glenn Khobuntin getting drafted just one slot ahead (more on that later on).

Their 2nd round picks were a little curious, but understandable given their roster situation. Magat could be there to replace Eric Menk, who may or may not play till he’s 50. Mendoza might be a little redundant given they have a guy like Rome Dela Rosa on board, but as I’ve said before, it ain’t bad having too much of a good thing.

Given the parameters that Alaska has – following the salary cap, not having sister teams to help facilitate trades – the draft haul was decent.

Grade: B-

NEXT: Teams that have drafted well for the future >>

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Barangay Ginebra Kings

5-PBA-Draft-Scottie-Thompson-Ginebra Grading the 2015 PBA Draft Week  - philippine sports news

NCAA Season 90 MVP Scottie Thompson goes to the Ginebra Kings

Draft Haul: Scottie Thompson, Aljon Mariano
Added: Nico Salva
Lost: Josh Urbiztondo, Emman Monfort, Jens Knuttel

Hard to miss on this pick, as they were going to high-ceiling player regardless of who they picked at 5. Thompson fills a future need, especially with the Fast and Furious combo of Mark Caguiao and Jay Helterbrand nearing the tail-end of their careers. He also has a very high basketball IQ, which will definitely help as he learns the intricacies of the read-based triangle system.

Scoring Aljon Mariano in the 2nd round is great value for the team. Yes, his downside is that he’s sort of a tweener, but he’s got a great scoring touch, and as shown in the PBA Combine, the speed to convert to the small forward position full time. Word on the street though is that he may eventually be shipped to Global Port for the recently acquired Jervy Cruz.

If that pushes through they basically grabbed a solid veteran that fills an immediate need (back up big) with a second round pick. Good job Earl Timothy Cone!

Grade: B+

NLEX Road Warriors

6-PBA-Draft-Garvo-Lanete-NLEX Grading the 2015 PBA Draft Week  - philippine sports news

Garvo Lanete gets his wish to play for Boyet Fernandez and NLEX

Draft Haul: Garvo Lanete, Glenn Khobuntin, Simon Enciso (via trade)
Lost: Aldrech Ramos, KG Canaleta
Added: Kevin Alas

Like Ginebra and Meralco, it’s difficult to mess up this draft when you’ve got some sure fire talent falling into your lap.

With their first pick, they got Garvo Lanete, who’s been held out of joining the PBA for quite some time. It must be fate that he ended up with the team and management group that’s been a part of for the past billion years.

But the real steal they got was Glenn Khobuntin at 10. Both the Aces and the Elasto Painters were secretly praying that NLEX would select someone else and he’d drop. After turning his life around during his years at National U (and winning a championship to boot), Khobuntin also impressed coaches during his stint with the Sinag team that took home the gold in Singapore.

Add these picks to the move where they essentially turned Canaleta and Ramos into Kevin Alas without giving up the 10th pick, it’s been a great week for the Road Warriors.

Grade: B+

Star Hotshots

8-PBA-Draft-Norbert-Torres-Star Grading the 2015 PBA Draft Week  - philippine sports news

Stretch forward and former UAAP champion Norbert Torres goes to Star

Draft Haul: Norbert Torres

Talk about luck. With Ahanmisi being selected at 3, that meant someone out of Torres, Lanete, Amer, Thompson, and Newsome would fall to 8. Some even had Khobuntin or Dela Cruz going to Star at that spot. However, grabbing Torres at 8 was simply too good to pass up on. He was by far the best big in the draft outside of Tautuaa and Rosario and to get him at 8 is great value.

Grade: B+

NEXT: THE TOP OF THE CLASS >>

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Globalport Batang Pieruaap150 Grading the 2015 PBA Draft Week  - philippine sports news

Draft Haul: No 1st & 2nd round picks, Roi Sumang
Added: Jervy Cruz
Lost: Jewel Ponferrada

Slowly but surely, Global Port has become a contender in the PBA, partly because they gave up future picks to help bolster their roster prior to last season. That left them without a first round pick in this draft.

That didn’t stop the Mikee Romero owned group from nabbing first round talent. By now, everyone’s read up on the draft day slide of the talented but mercurial Roi Sumang. Rumors of bad attitude and his representation (Lawrence Chongson is his manager) caused him to drop all the way down to the 3rd round.

Nabbing a talent at that spot is an excellent gamble for the Batang Pier. Yes, they have an overloaded backcourt with Pringle, Romeo, Yeo, and now Sumang, but having more talent is always a good thing. They certainly didn’t have any problems integrating Stanley, Terrence, Omar, and Ronjay Buenafe last conference, and they finished 4th after the elimination round.

And how could we miss the reunion between Jervy Cruz and Pido Jarencio? This is going to be good!

Grade: A

Meralco BoltsMeralco-Newsome-Amer Grading the 2015 PBA Draft Week  - philippine sports news

Draft Haul: Chris Newsome, Baser Amer

Talk about playing your cards right. Everyone thought that the Bolts would be going for a big and would select Torres with one of their first round picks. However, with Rabeh Al-Hussaini back from his stint in Kuwait and the sneaky signing of Justin Chua, the Bolts had enough size to go after the best available talents in the draft.

Enter Chris Newsome and Baser Amer.

Newsome will now finally get to play with the coach who recruited him to go to the Philippines in the first place, while Amer represents their future at the point guard position.

The Bolts now have a guard rotation of Alapag, David, Newsome and Amer. Add in hard-working forwards Cliff Hodge, Sean Anthony, and Jared Dillinger, with Rabeh and Kelly Nabong manning the middle and Norman Black teaching them the finer things in basketball? Things are looking electric for Meralco this coming season.

Grade: A

Talk ‘N Text Tropang TextersPBA-Slam-Draft-suite-cover Grading the 2015 PBA Draft Week  - philippine sports news

Draft Haul: Mo Tautuaa
Lost: Kevin Alas, Rob Reyes
Added: TROY ROSARIO!

Cmon guys, is there really any other grade to give them? They locked up the top two picks in the draft AFTER winning a championship during the Commissioner’s Cup.

Thanks to a series of trades with the two expansion teams, the Tropang Texters now have their front-court of the future, one that should compete for championships every single conference for the next 8 years.

Is this unfair? You be the judge.

Grade: A+

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