The 2015 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Draft is one of the richest in league history, with a record haul of 54 rookie applicants being drafted by the 12 member teams. While not all of the drafted players will be signed up by their respective teams, the top draftees will certainly create a huge impact on Asia’s oldest professional league even in their rookie year, especially since some of them were standouts of the National Team.
Moreover, the 2015 PBA Draft is the rite to passage for the country’s top collegiate standouts. Prominent draftees have led their college teams to glory. Among the prominent schools that have contributed the most for this year’s draft are National University and San Beda College, the reigning champions of the UAAP and NCAA, respectively. Said schools each had five standouts who were drafted last Sunday and it is proof of their distinction as champions of their leagues. However, a school outside of UAAP and NCAA is an emergent force in the collegiate world, as Centro Escolar University had four of its varsity players drafted this year.
With this, Fullcourtfresh.com’s Merck Maguddayao graded each of the twelve PBA teams on how they picked their prospective stars on draft day.
1. Alaska – Kevin Racal, Marion Magat, Jaypee Mendoza, Abel Galliguez, Nico Elorde, Robin Rono
The Calvin Abueva-era Aces will prove its reputation for hustle, as the former grand slam team picked Letranite utility wingman Kevin Racal and perhaps the steal of the draft in Marion Magat.
Racal is a big yet versatile small forward and has a dependable shooting touch and post moves. A lockdown defender, he is willing to sacrifice his body against big scorers in the NCAA. On the other hand, Magat is one of the tallest men in the draft. At 6’7″, he was a former bench warmer for National University due to the presence of Cameroonian import Emmanuel Mbe but has blossomed in the PBA D-League, playing for Jumbo Plastic. Despite being a center for most of his life, Magat has developed a mid-range game, making him capable of playing the 4 position as well.
The Aces also picked scrappy point guards Galliguez, Elorde, and Rono though it is doubtful if they get signed up due to the steady play of their elders Jayvee Casio, Chris Banchero, and Ping Exciminiano. Mendoza, a former San Beda enforcer, rejoined his college buddy Rome de la Rosa though he may first get a rough training from Vic Manuel before he get signed up.
Overall, Alaska picked quality men as second liners to Abueva and the aging Sonny Thoss.
Grade: 1.5
2. Barako Bull – Kris Rosales, Michael Miranda, Yutien Andrada, John Ray Alabanza
Barako Bull may have given a lot of draft picks in exchange for veteran players but may have landed a potential star player (relative to Barako’s roster) in Kris Rosales. Rosales, an undrafted applicant in the 2013 National Basketball Association Draft who played prominently for Hope International University in California. The 6’0″ point guard averaged 13.4 points and 4.4 assists for his school in the 2012-13 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), a minor collegiate league in the United States. He may be an unknown to Filipinos but Rosales’ exposure in the United States may give Barako Bull an upside for the coming season.
The Energy also drafted big men Michael Miranda (from San Sebastian), Yutien Andrada (from La Salle), and John Ray Alabanza (UE) and they might make it to the lineup, knowing Barako’s reputation of maximizing role players in their rotation.
Expect Rosales to back up current Gilas player JC Intal as the leaders for Barako Bull’s upcoming campaign.
Grade: 2.00
3. Barangay Ginebra – Scottie Thompson, Aljon Mariano, Denice Villamor
Barangay Ginebra did not only acquire the winningest coach in PBA history; it had also acquired college basketball’s most prolific point guard in Scottie Thompson, the do-it-all reigning Most Valuable Player of the NCAA. The triple-double machine of Perpetual Help is playing like crazy for the past two NCAA seasons and is raring to show his stuff in the pros after the ongoing NCAA season. At 6’1″, Thompson reminds us of Ginebra’s icon Sonny Jaworski, with his high basketball IQ, pass-first mentality, and rugged, physical defense. It will not be a surprise if he wins Rookie of the Year honors.
Former UST clutch man Aljon Mariano was also acquired by the PBA’s most popular team while former NU sharpshooter Denice Villamor might use his length as a big shooting guard for the team.
Expect the Ginebra to be a more tenacious yet sophisticated team under coach Cone and Thompson. We might just witness the resurgence of the Barangay.
Grade: 1.25
4. Blackwater – Arthur de la Cruz, Almond Vosotros, Jason Melano, Keith Agovida, Jawhar Purdy, Christian Palma, Mon Abundo, Randy Dilay
The league’s doormat may have found a savior in San Beda’s hottest player Arthur de la Cruz, who plans to follow his father’s steps in the PBA. De la Cruz is making waves in the NCAA for being the top scorer, rebounder, and passer of the Red Lions and Blackwater may have found a leader and stabilizer in him.
Accompanying de la Cruz is SEA Games gold medalist Almond Vosotros, who was the scoring leader of the Sinag Pilipinas who won the 2015 Singapore SEA Games. Vosotros is a pint-sized spitfire who can shoot at will during his UAAP heyday.
Blackwater drafted six more players but the most intriguing is Fil-Am Jawhar Purdy, the 5’8″ pocket rocket out of California who once torched the US NCAA Division 2 with a 29-point game. We don’t know if it’s a one-hit wonder but the fifth round draftee has an enigmatic appeal that is hard to ignore.
Grade: 1.5
5. Globalport – Roi Sumang, Ryan Wetherell, Bong Galanza
It is such a surprise why former NBA D-League player Ryan Wetherell went down to the fourth round of the draft. The Fil-Am guard was the most impressive during Draft Combine, topping the court sprint, line agility drill, and vertical leap exercises, leaving an impression that he is a freak of nature. Skipping the PBA D-League, Wetherell became the top scorer of the fledgling FilSports Basketball Association. What’s questionable of him, however, is his ability to win games for his team Laguna Warriors, who were eliminated in the league’s inaugural season.
Wetherell will join a Globalport team that is stacked with heavy scorers like Terrence Romeo, Jay Washington, Joseph Yeo, and Ronjay Buenafe. To make things more suspect for the Batang Pier, Globalport also picked a similar score-first point guard in Roi Sumang, UE’s top scorer in the last UAAP season. Joining him is his college batchmate Bong Galanza, who is a scoring machine as well.
Globalport may have shot for the stars, but will it bring chemistry in a league that has been more defensive-oriented as before?
Grade: 2.5
6. Mahindra – Bradwyn Guinto, Leo de Vera, Michael Vincent DiGregorio, Alexander Austria, Roberto Hainga, Michael Abad
The former Kia team of head coach Manny Pacquiao proved to doubters that they are no joke. After a forgettable one-win stint in the Philippine Cup, Kia improved with imports as it won four games in the Commissioner’s Cup, and five games in the Governors’ Cup and was on equal footing with teams like Ginebra, San Miguel, and Talk ‘n Text. The novelty of Pacquiao is no longer the case of Mahindra—they might be a serious team to deal with come the 41st Season. However, that still bears watching as the Enforcers have to prove first that it could hold its own in an all-Filipino lineup.
Trading second draft pick Troy Rosario to the Tropang Texters, Mahindra will make do of the Sebastinian duo of Bradwyn Guinto and Leo de Vera, who lifted the post-Abueva Golden Stags team to a third-place finish in NCAA Season 89. The duo has a blue collar reputation in the collegiate ranks and they are raring to showcase their stuff in the pros.
Michael DiGregorio is an intriguing pick, with a stellar resume (two-time MVP and two-time leading scorer) in the Great Lakes Valley Conference of the US NCAA Division 2. He also brings to him pedigree, being a nephew of NBA great Ernie DiGregorio. Alli Austria is another Fil-Am prospect, being a steady point guard in the PBA D-League.
Overall, the Enforcers as an expansion team needs the help from all players that come their way to boost its stock in the PBA. It is a shame thought that Mahindra’s management let go of a future star in Rosario in exchange for three journeymen.
Grade: 2.25
7. Meralco – Chris Newsome, Baser Amer, Joseph Sedurifa
The Bolts passed on the chance to draft NCAA MVP Scottie Thompson and the next best big man left in Norbert Torres and settled instead for Ateneo’s Chris Newsome and San Beda’s Baser Amer in the first round.
Newsome boasts of a long wing span and leaping ability while Amer, who is still saddled with a shoulder injury, is a four-time champion in the NCAA and one of its elite point guards. It is doubtful though if both players will be maximized since Newsome will play along the likes of Gary David and Jared Dillinger while Amer is expected to play second-fiddle to the comebacking Jimmy Alapag. It could have made sense for the Bolts to land Torres to beef up their center position led by the also comebacking Rabeh Al-Hussaini.
For D-League followers, Sedurifa is an exciting pick given his scoring outbursts for Café France.
Grade: 2.25
8. NLEX – Garvo Lanete, Glenn Khobuntin, Simon Enciso, Jansen Rios, Jerramy King, Alfred Batino, Edgar Tanuan, Arvin Vitug
The Road Warriors went for stability and experience by picking up collegiate winners in Lanete and Khobuntin. To spice things up, the two have the maturity to play in the big league as both have ample experiences playing for the national team. Lanete is a tall point guard who led the Red Lions to four NCAA championships while Khobuntin was NU’s ex-factor in their 2014 UAAP championship run. Both have also won gold medals in the SEA Games.
NLEX also got Rain or Shine’s pick Enciso from a trade. Touted as the “Filipino D-Rose” in reference to the Chicago Bulls star, Enciso has playground skills and it’s a matter of time if it will translate to success in the PBA. Meanwhile, King is an explosive scorer who scored the most points (40) in a single game in D-League history.
Coach Boyet Fernandez wants a balance of experience and youth and their picks are reflective of it. Can he win another championship with his new roster?
Grade: 1.5
9. Purefoods Star – Norbert Torres, Mark Cruz, Samboy de Leon
The last grand slam team went for the burly Norbert Torres, La Salle’s starting center for the past five seasons. Torres is a great addition to a team that badly needs a legit center, especially since long time bigs Marc Pingris, Rafi Reavis, and Mick Pennisi are no longer getting younger.
Cruz is one of those wily point guards that can surprise the naysayers despite his 5’5″ frame. The Ant-Man is currently leading the Letran Knights to a league-leading record in the NCAA as he is known for his shooting prowess and upper-body strength, much like starting point guard Mark Barroca. Samboy de Leon, meanwhile, is one of those CEU boys who are out to leave an impression that there is collegiate basketball outside the UAAP and the NCAA.
Overall, the Hotshots picked the right players to complement their mainstays.
Grade: 1.75
10. Rain or Shine – Maverick Ahanmisi, Josan Nimes, Don Trollano
Yeng Guiao is known to make the best out of underrated players and true to his reputation, he surprisingly picked Maverick Ahanmisi, a former high school phenom in California but was not the impact player he used to be upon playing in the US NCAA. He put up decent numbers in his PBA D-League career but his shooting accuracy is quite suspect.
With two first-round picks at Rain or Shine’s disposal, they picked Mapua’s leading scorer Josan Nimes, a small forward at 6’4″. Before getting down with a hamstring injury, Nimes has been averaging 20 points per game in NCAA Season 91.
Adamson’s Don Trollano is also an interesting pick for the Elasto Painters who, like Nimes, possesses height and length for the two-guard/three-forward position. It seems that Guiao is still in search for the perfect swingman to complement his loaded backcourt.
Grade: 2.0
11. San Miguel – Michael Mabulac, Andretti Stevens
San Miguel is the league’s winningest team last season and with an intact core, the Beermen do not really need rookies. However, it is a delight to see former JRU Heavy Bomber Michael Mabulac get into a championship team is the epitome of a workhorse, but fans will not see much playing time from him for obvious reasons. Andretti Stevens, Mapua’s scrappy point guard, might not even be signed especially since the Beermen has acquired last season’s assist leader Brian Heruela.
Grade: 2.25
12. Talk ‘n Text – Moala Tautua’a, Troy Rosario, Michole Sorela, Joshua Cubillo, Emilian Vargas
Obviously, the Tropang Texters are the biggest winners in draft day. Lacking a dominant center, Tautua’a will certainly be the starting center for the Commissioner’s Cup champion and is a leading contender for the Rookie of the Year plum. The reigning PBA D-League MVP is a back-up power forward for Gilas Pilipinas together with, eherm, Mahindra’s second pick Troy Rosario, who was shipped by the Enforcers to TNT.
Rosario was NU’s main man in its championship run in UAAP Season 77 and has since been a skipper for the national team, being its ace player in the 2015 SEA Games. Touted as the successor of Ranidel de Ocampo, Rosario will bring height, versatility, and defense for the Tropa. Basically, they are the two rookies who will make a significant impact for the championship contender, though their national team workload may affect their PBA game. In any case, Talk ‘n Text made the proper investment on them.
Grade: 1.0
