Quick thoughts on tomorrow’s PBA draft

Posted by Jaemark Tordecilla on August 28, 2010 at 10:43 | Comments (11)

I had wanted to do a mock draft for the PBA rookie draft that’s happening tomorrow, like I did last year, but I didn’t have much time. I had actually been in Davao these past few days for a project for the day job – we were documenting a seminar for human rights workers from the Visayas and Mindanao, people doing the Lord’s work – and it was the farthest thing from having a blog where I write awful things about PBA players.

Also, this is a weird draft, with a lot of unknowns. People have been calling it shallow, but I think a lot of players, even those who fall in the second round, can make an impact in the PBA if they catch on with the right team. Here’s what I think about some players in the draft:

Rabeh Al-Hussaini – A couple of weeks ago, I was down on the two-time UAAP MVP. I saw him as just a slightly better version of his older brother, Carlo Sharma, who is a mediocre PBA big man. I was concerned about his apparent lack of athleticism, which was never a problem in the UAAP, but would be a major major issue when he’s in the PBA. I could imagine him getting into foul trouble every night when guys like Sol Mercado and Cyrus Baguio throw their bodies into him on the way to the basket.

Then I thought about it some more after his dominant performance in the rookie camp, and I realized that there was a better comparison for Rabeh in the PBA: Sonny Thoss. Forget about numbers for a minute, and think about the impact Thoss has for Alaska, who has made the Philippine Cup finals two straight times despite him being the team’s only elite inside operator. Al-Hussaini could have that kind of impact too if he decides to camp himself on the low block instead of being just a jumpshooter.

Nonoy Baclao – I really like Baclao’s game, and I thought that he had as much, if not more, of an impact on Ateneo’s back-to-back championships as Al-Hussaini. He’s not as athletic as Marc Pingris, but he’s bigger, and I think that if he stays in shape, he could be a Pingris/Nelbert Omolon-type. And in today’s PBA, frontcourt athleticism is the number one commodity (see: Purefoods’ Philippine Cup championship), so if Baclao can live up to his potential, he might be the most important player in the draft.

I’m also rooting for Baclao because of his background. I’m usually averse toward Ateneo guys, but he’s different, because he’s not the usual Ateneo type. See, even in recruiting players for its varsity, Ateneo is very, very elitist, and they usually gravitate towards homegrown players, athletes with solid high school pedigree (usually from exclusive schools), or foreigners and Fil-Ams. Baclao, who was recruited out of West Negros University, does not fit this type – it’s very easy to imagine him ending up in FEU or Adamson, even La Salle – but Ateneo fans ended up loving him anyway. I don’t know, I thought it was nice to see more diversity in the Ateneo program, apart from rich kids and high school superstars.

RJ Jazul – For the past four years, I did not enjoy watching a basketball player play – at any level of basketball – more than RJ “So Cool” Jazul, and if you’re a Letran fan, you would know exactly what I’m talking about. He’s not athletic, and his shooting can be streaky and erratic, but he was just a joy to watch at both ends of the floor while he was playing for the Knights. You know that old cliché that basketball observers say about how certain players see plays a split-second ahead of everyone else on the court? That was how Jazul played with Letran. You know who else gets that description? Larry Bird. So yeah, what I’m saying is that Jazul plays like a 5’10” version of Larry Bird. I don’t know if that’s good enough for the PBA, but I certainly hope so. I also hope he ends up with Derby Ace, who owns the ninth pick in the first round. I’d rather have Jazul as the team’s third point guard rather than Chris Timberlake, to be honest.

John Wilson – He’s got all the talent in the world, but the road to PBA dreams is littered with shattered dreams of talented shooting guards. What I really like about him is his doggedness, which is why he gets so many rebounds and loose balls. He kind of reminds me of Macmac Cardona, although he’s not as skilled as Captain Hook. He is bigger, and just as tough. I’d draft him high, but I don’t know if all his baggage wouldn’t scare off coaches.

Rey Guevarra – Yeah, yeah, another Letran guy. I don’t know if he has fully recovered from his ACL injury last year, but if he has, he might be the biggest hit-or-miss guy in the draft. He is so athletic and raw that you don’t know if he’s ever going to put it all together. He plays like a bigger version of Bong Ravena, complete with all the awkwardness, and if you recall, Ravena also languished in San Miguel’s bench for a couple of years before going to Purefoods and becoming a star.

Elmer Espiritu – He’s very athletic, which is always good, but I don’t know if he has a position in the PBA. I don’t think he’s skilled enough to play the three-spot, like fellow UE alumnus Mark Borboran, and I don’t know if he’s big and strong enough to be an athletic defensive forward type such Pingris/Omolon. He’ll probably find a PBA spot somewhere just on his athleticism, but I don’t know if he’s going to be worth a high draft pick.

Mark Jeffries – He’s supposed to be this killer sleeper Fil-Am, but there have been conflicting reports about his availability. GMANews.TV reported that he didn’t have his papers in order, but then he was allowed to play in the rookie camp.

Josh Vanlandingham – You know who he reminds me of? Dwight Lago.

Val Acuna, Hans Thiele – I think these UE forwards would be very good sleepers late in the second round. Even if they don’t get drafted, I think they have a good shot of making it to a lineup.

Jimbo Aquino – You know what, I think it’d be nice if he ends up in San Miguel with his mentor Ato Agustin.

Comments (11) | Trackbacks (2)
Tags: Ateneo Blue Eagles, B-MEG Derby Ace Llamados / Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants, Letran Knights, NCAA, Philippine Basketball Association, San Miguel Beermen, Sol Mercado, UAAP, UE Red Warriors

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Comments

#1 The Legendary on 2010-08-28 14:22 (Reply)

Another talented former Red Warrior will make it big in the PBA. lol

#1.1 Khupz on 2010-09-01 10:17 (Reply)

Current rookie roster is poor! No one from this class deserves to be in the PBA. They all look like high school ballers even played like. hehehe!!!

#2 Mon on 2010-08-28 14:57 (Reply)

1) I hope Nonoy Baclao wouldn't end up like former Blue Eagle frontliner Rich Alvarez. Due to a lack of bread and butter offense, he might end up replicating Rich's fate. I hope he finds and fits his role to a T and maybe end up like a poor man's Vic Pablo.

2) I'm aware of john Wilson's scoring explosions but I'm not that well versed as to how he gets his points since I don't have the chance to watch him play that much. Would it be fair to say he has the goods to duplicate Gary David's offensive exploits in the big league? That would be a welcome sight. I don't have much beef against FilAms but it would be great to see a really local baller from our premiere collegiate leagues hit it big in the pros just like James Yap and Gary David.

#2.1 The Legendary on 2010-08-29 11:39 (Reply)

Baclao will have a long PBA career provided he will not be plagued with injuries.

His defense will be his meal ticket.

#3 igme on 2010-08-28 21:41 (Reply)

i find it sad how only a few applicants get to be drafted, let alone be given enough playing time. i don't see how alaska, for example, can even draft a player when they have reserves who are more familiar with the system. they even have burtscher who is seldom used behind an already solid second unit. whew, good luck to all aspirants.

#4 ftjo on 2010-08-28 22:24 (Reply)

I'm with you on Baclao, Jazul. On Rabeh, too, where you complain about his lack of athleticism. Hehehe. Not with you on Elmer Espiritu, though.

You have to realize with the depth of talent in the PBA, none of these guys are going to make any significant impact on offense unless they end up playing for Barako Bull. Even Meralco drafting Rabeh won't make Rabeh a key offensive contributor immediately.

That's why i think Baclao will make the most impact in the draft, because he brings something that can be instantly felt, his defense. Jazul may be an offense-type player, but mainly for his guts and streetball-type instinct, you get the feeling he might make something happen every time he's on the court.

And more than Elmer's athleticism, I like his scrappiness. I think both will make teams overlook his lack of size.

John Wilson, on the right team, you'll never know.

#5 SYD on 2010-08-28 22:55 (Reply)

i don't want jimbo aquino or any rookie near san miguel!

he'll be near ato agustin alright... but in the back of Ato, wearing street clothes!

#6 Alaska Phan on 2010-08-29 18:55 (Reply)

Espiritu's got hops, and Bonbon can get hot, but still, I think Tim Cone and co. will regret trading Larry Fonacier. I doubt they'd have survived TNT in Game 7 without his dagger threes in the fourth quarter. What he lacks in athletic ability he makes up for in basketball IQ. http://www.inquirer.net/sports/articles/2010-PBA-Rookie-Draft.html

#6.1 alaska's ace on 2010-08-29 19:46 (Reply)

I'm thinking they might have traded away Fonacier to give Borboran more minutes, who while not as good an all-around player as Larry is just as good a shooter. I like the gamble they took on the spitfire Custodio, I still remember him in his rookie year torching the Aces with daredevil drives and jumpers. I'm hoping it pans out for the Aces, since they just go a hell of a lot more athletic.

#6.1.1 Alaska Phan on 2010-08-29 20:55 (Reply)

They're probably matching up with B-Meg, whose long, athletic frontline whupped them good last year. But Bon-freaking-Bon? He never won anything and as talented as he is, is simply unreliable. Larry, on the other hand, always lived up to his teammates' and coaches' trust. Slow, yes. Isang palito lang ang talon, yes. Pero yag-balls at a knack for making the right play? Hell, yes.

That said, Larry is probably already at his peak. Espiritu's upside is way up there. Just not sure if it's worth it though.

#7 rehaz on 2010-08-29 22:22 (Reply)

"I’d rather have Jazul as the team’s third point guard rather than Chris Timberlake, to be honest." - I'd rather have Jazul as the team's third point guard rather than Paul Artadi. I'm a big fan of Purefoods (even created a fan page in FB) but not a fan of his. I think he needs to mature this year and stop being inside the court when a whistle is blown (making it look like he goes inside the court while play is ongoing). If he wants to be a top-tier PG, he needs leadership and poise. This will also stop Valerie Concepcion from tweeting about him. hehe