PBA 2013 Draft report cards - grading the hauls

44 players got drafted last Sunday at the Robinson's Midtown Manila, in one of the most loaded rookie crops in recent memory. But did your favorite team pick the right players, or did they waste a crucial opportunity to stock up for the future? Check out Polo Bustamante's grades to find out:

San Mig Coffee Mixers

• 1st round - 2nd pick - Ian Sangalang
• 1st round - 10th pick - Justin Chua
• 2nd round - 3rd pick - Justin Melton
• 3rd round - 10th pick - JR Cawaling

DRAFT GRADE: A+

If I could put more pluses on my draft grade, I would. SMC played this draft perfectly. While a lot of other teams were wheeling and dealing, they stood pat and picked the best players available to fit their team.

Their draft haul is anchored on Ian Sangalang, the most polished big man in the draft. They rolled the dice with Justin Chua, another skilled center and Justin Melton, a second round pick with first round athleticism. Their last pick, JR Cawaling, is a long, versatile swingman that most teams passed on.

All of these picks can contribute in thepros immediately. But because SMC is a champion team, they can develop their rookies slowly and properly, letting them learn from the best in the league.

(NOTE: The Mixers later traded Justin Chua, along with swingman Leo Najorda, to get the seventh overall pick in the draft, Isaac Holstein, from the GlobalPort Batang Pier)


Barangay Ginebra San Miguel

• 1st round - 1st pick - Greg Slaughter
• 1st round - 4th pick - James Forrester
• 4th round - 4th pick - John Usita
• 5th round - 4th pick - Alvin Padilla
• 6th round - 4th pick - Jens Knuttel

DRAFT GRADE: A

Barangay Ginebra automatically gets a B+ by not over-thinking the first pick and drafting the seven-footer. It would have been crazy if they passed on a once-in-a-generation talent like him. Slaughter will still need to toughen up and adjust to the PBA pace but he’ll fit perfectly in a Ginebra team sorely needing a franchise big man.

What pushes Ginebra’s grade to an A is their draft day trade to get James Forrester. The Fil-Canadian forward is a terrific athlete that will fly with Chris Ellis and Japeth Aguilar in the run-and-gun Ginebra offense. He’s a solid insurance policy for Mark Caguioa and another exciting player the Barangay will cheer for.

In a span of 24-hours Barangay Ginebra transformed into Barangay Lob.



GlobalPort Batang Pier

• 1st round - 5th pick - Terrence Romeo
• 1st round - 6th pick - RR Garcia
• 1st round - 7th pick - Isaac Holstein
• 2nd round - 1st pick - Nico Salva
• 3rd round - 2nd pick - Jopher Custodio
• 3rd round - 4th pick - LA Revilla

DRAFT GRADE: A

The busiest team on draft day also gets one of my highest grades. They turned their lone first round pick, Chris Ross and Yousef Taha into Terrence Romeo, RR Garcia, Isaac Holstein, and then lucked out by scooping up Nico Salva with the 11th selection. This was a masterpiece in draft day trading by the GlobalPort management.

All-in-all, they managed to get the two most talented guards in the draft, a legitimate 6'9" center and the polished forward that they needed. Their draft day moves not only ensured the future of the team, but also gave the Batang Pier their most talented squad since they entered the league.

Will it all work? Will Terrence Romeo, RR Garcia and Nico Salva play well together with Sol Mercado and Jay Washington? I don’t know, but I’m excited to find out, bro.

(NOTE: The Batang Pier later traded Isaac Holstein to the San Mig Coffee Mixers in exchange for the 10th overall pick Justin Chua, and swingman Leo Najorda)


Petron Blaze Boosters

• 3rd round - 5th pick - Joseph Marata
• 4th round - 5th pick - Nate Matute

DRAFT GRADE: A

It may surprise many that I'm giving Petron such a good grade when they only picked two fringe players. But I’m giving them such a high score because for the first time in a long time, Petron resisted the urge to make a Petron kind of move.

They could have easily kept the fifth pick (acquired from Barako Bull) and drafted Terrence Romeo a very talented guard that will definitely be another weapon for them. But instead, they chose to keep their team intact, thus ensuring continuity and continued growth, something Petron needs more than any talented rookie. They already have a championship team. All they need now is to grow together and move forward with June Mar Fajardo as the centerpiece.


Rain or Shine Elasto Painters

• 1st round - 3rd pick - Raymond Almazan
• 1st round - 9th pick - Alex Nuyles
• 2nd round - 2nd pick - Jeric Teng
• 2nd round - 9th pick - Gayford Rodriguez
• 3rd round - 9th pick - Ervic Vijandre

DRAFT GRADE: B+

In my opinion, the Elasto Painters were one of the biggest winners of the PBA Draft. They started by getting Raymond Almazan, the shot-blocker and rim-protector that they needed with their third pick. They could have packed up right there and then and I still would have given them a solid B.

The rest of their draft night bounty is just gravy. They took Alex Nuyles, a player who turned a lot of heads the week of the draft at ninth, and still got Jeric Teng at 12th. The former King Tiger was one of the steals of the second round as he brings a PBA-ready arsenal to an anemic Rain or Shine offense.

The question now is how their rookie wings will mix with the current Rain or Shine shooting guards and small forwards. Fortunately, they have a coach that can make all this work in Yeng Guiao.

 
 

Alaska Aces

• 1st round - 8th pick - Ryan Buenafe
• 2nd round - 8th pick - Ping Exciminiano
• 3rd round - 8th pick - Raymund Ilagan

DRAFT GRADE: B

Alaska’s picks slowly grew on me. Coach Luigi Trillo threw the biggest curveball in the draft when he selected Ryan Buenafe with his first round pick. Back then, it totally didn’t make sense. With guys like Nico Salva and Jeric Teng still on the board, Gatas Republik was thrown for a loop when they heard Buenafe’s name called.

But the more I look at it, the more it makes sense. Alaska already has a proven core. They just need someone to come in and help them with their playmaking when Jvee Casio rests. Enter Buenafe. No one can question Buenafe’s basketball IQ and passing skills. He’s a winner that makes plays when it matters most. He can create for guys like Calvin Abueva, Gabby Espinas and RJ Jazul.

The addition of Ryan Buenafe looks like another genius move by the Aces. That’s if he can stay in shape and buy into the triangle. Right now, that’s still looking like a big “if.”


Air21 Express

• 2nd round - 6th pick - Eric Camson
• 3rd round - 1st pick - Joshua Webb
• 4th round - 2nd pick - Angelo Ingco
• 5th round - 2nd pick - Randolph Chua

DRAFT GRADE: C+

Air21 made the most of their draft. I can’t blame them for the fact that by the time they were on the clock, all the game-changing prospects had already been selected. In fact, I’m rewarding them for taking the best player available in with their 16th pick, Eric Camson. The former Adamson power forward is has a solid mid-range game and is ready to mix it up inside.

I am penalizing Air21 though for not addressing their point guard situation. Coming into the draft Air21 sorely needed a playmaker for all their offensive options. They opted to take a risk on lesser-known players when there were still a lot of more established point guard prospects that would fit their team better.


Meralco Bolts

• 3rd round - 6th pick - Anjo Caram
• 4th round - 6th pick - Mike Parala
• 5th round - 6th pick - Mark Lopez
• 6th round - 6th pick - John Gonzales
• 7th round - 6th pick - Mark Bringas

DRAFT GRADE: C

I’m giving Meralco a passing grade for their draft. They made their offseason moves before the draft, and it looks like they'll be rolling with their new acquisitions, Gary David and Rabeh Al-Hussaini. They have a much more well-rounded team and will focus on developing chemistry over developing new talent.

Their draft wasn’t exciting but it was functional, picking several experienced college players to round out their bench.


Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters

• 2nd round - 5th pick - JP Erram
• 2nd round - 7th pick - Robby Celiz
• 3rd round - 7th pick - Eliud Poligrates
• 4th round - 7th pick - Oping Sumalinog
• 5th round - 7th pick - John Villarias

DRAFT GRADE: D

If there was one team that needed to make a move in this year’s draft, it should have been the Tropang Texters. Their aging core needs an transfusion of new blood. They not only need talent for the upcoming PBA season, but as insurance for the future as well.

I really thought Talk 'N Text could have given up a key player from their core to get a first round draft pick. A proven Norman Black guy like Justin Chua could have been the start to a slow and steady rebuilding process of the team around Jayson Castro.

That being said, Talk N’ Text still drafted prospects that can play for Black and his system. Second round picks Robbie Celiz and JP Erram may end up surprising a lot of people next season.



Barako Bull Energy Cola

• 2nd round - 4th pick - Jeric Fortuna
• 2nd round - 10th pick - Carlo Lastimosa
• 3rd round - 3rd pick - Darwin Cordero
• 4th round - 3rd pick - Jett Vidal?
• 5th round - 3rd pick - Mike Silungan

DRAFT GRADE: F-

If I could put more minuses on that grade, I would. Barako Bull had the chance to pick the three best guard prospects in the draft and exchanged it all for a mixed platter of Denok Miranda, Rico Maierhofer, Willy Wilson and Magi Sison. Rather than roll the dice with proven talent, they’re rolling the dice with journey men and bench players. Rather than trot out a young, exciting core in the coming season, they’re trotting out an unexcitng and confusing line-up.

I honestly don’t understand Barako Bull’s moves. This wasn’t a win-now move because they traded for players that barely cracked other team’s rotations. This wasn’t a rebuilding move because they would have kept the picks and built around young talent. This wasn’t a money-saving move because rookie contracts are cheaper than the veteran contracts of the players they got in return.

One thing is for sure, the Energy Cola set themselves up for a whole lot of mediocrity with their lousy draft day trades. - AMD, GMA News