Will it go three rounds?

Last year, there were 60 applicants for the PBA draft and 19 were chosen in two rounds with two teams passing up their picks before the curtains closed. Two drafted cagers never got to log a single second in the PBA  first rounder Pari Llagas and second rounder Marvin Hayes. Among those who were snubbed, Vaughn Canta and Hans Thiele managed to sign contracts, joining a select group of so-called “undesirables” playing in the league. The list of undrafted players still active in the league includes Josh Urbiztondo, Erick Rodriguez, Chico Lanete,   Jerwin Gaco, Reed Juntilla and Mark Yee.

It’s not a sure thing that if you’re picked in the draft, you’ll be signed to a contract. In the same way, a player who isn’t picked could end up with a team as a free agent in the end. Sometimes, a player may prefer not to be drafted so he can try out for a team of his choice, a team where he thinks there is a good chance for him to stick.

Today, 34 rookie hopefuls are up for grabs in the draft at Robinson’s Place Manila. The PBA has eliminated its two-round restriction and will continue the selection process until all 10 teams signify a pass. With Shopinas getting the 11th pick overall as a concession to a reactivated franchise, 21 players may be chosen in the first and second rounds. 

The order of drafting in the first round is as follows  Powerade, Rain Or Shine, Barako Bull Energy (formerly Air 21), Powerade, B-Meg, Alaska, Talk ‘N’ Text, Petron, Ginebra and Barako Bull. The second round order is as follows  Shopinas, Talk ‘N’ Text, Alaska, Alaska, Alaska, B-Meg, Alaska, Barangay Ginebra, Barako Bull, Barako Bull and Talk ‘N’ Text. If there is a third round, the order will follow the natural sequence  Powerade, Barako Bull, Meralco, Rain Or Shine, B-Meg, Alaska, Shopinas, Petron, Ginebra and Talk ‘N’ Text.

* * * *

Of the 34 applicants, six are Fil-foreigners. They are 6-3 3/4 John Chamberlin (it’s not Chamberlain), 5-8 1/4 Filemon Fernandez, 6-3 1/4 Marvin Graebel, 6-0 3/4 Philip Medenilla, 6-1 1/2 Marcio Lassiter and 6-2 1/2 Chris Lutz. Chamberlin, 27, was born in Chicago and his mother Marie Fe Cruz is from Paete. He was with the Philippine Youth training team in 2004-05 and played for TIP in 2007-09. Fernandez, 29, was born in Cisco, Texas. His father Filemon is from Numancia, Aklan, and mother Iluminada Fortis from Dawis, Bohol. Fernandez suited up for the Fullerton College Hornets in the California Community College Athletic Association and played on the 37-0 junior college state champion squad in 2005-06. Graebel, 26, was born in Germany and has played in the PBL, Liga and D-League. Medenilla, 26, was born in the US and played guard for NCAA Division III school Oswego University in New York. His parents Albert and Amparo Merchan are both Filipinos.

Lassiter, 24, and Lutz, 26, are NCAA Division I veterans who were recruited to play for Smart Gilas. Their experience in the NCAA and international competitions gives them a major advantage in the draft. Both play multiple positions and are comfortable at either two or three. Lassiter’s mother Alexandria Eshabarr is Filipina and father Jolinko is American. He was born in San Francisco. Lutz’ mother is Luzviminda Reyes and his father Wayne is American. He played for Purdue and Marshall Universities in the NCAA.

Jvee Casio will no doubt be the first overall pick. The 5-9 3/4, 175-pound guard may lack size but more than makes up for his limited ceiling with a big heart. He learned his hoop basics at San Beda then moved to La Salle in the UAAP seniors. In 2002, Casio was the NCAA juniors Finals MVP and a year later, was named best rookie in the UAAP seniors. In 2008, he was MVP in the Champions League and last year, was voted MVP in the Dubai Invitationals with Smart Gilas.

Powerade has the first overall pick and coach Bo Perasol will surely go for Casio. The Tigers badly need a leader on the floor. In the last Philippine Cup, Powerade was No. 1 in the league in most turnovers at 20.2 a game and gave up the most fastbreak and turnover points. Celino Cruz and Jai Reyes are Perasol’s natural point guards with Mark Macapagal and Chico Lanete switching from two to one when called on. Perasol has visions of Casio combining with Gary David to fuel Powerade’s attack. Casio’s high basketball IQ will mean stability on both ends for the Tigers.

Rain Or Shine will choose second overall and the Elasto Painters are likely to select 6-1 3/4 Paul Lee, a point guard like Casio. With only T. Y. Tang as a reliable quarterback, coach Yeng Guiao wants a court general who can lift Rain Or Shine to a level of competitive consistency. The Elasto Painters were No. 7 in assists in the Philippine Cup and if Lee jumps aboard, that standing will definitely improve. Lee is a deadly three-point shooter and shifty penetrator who can create for Gabe Norwood, Ryan Buenafe and the comebacking Ronnie Matias.

Barako Bull will likely tap Lassiter with the third pick. Lassiter should fit nicely into coach Junel Baculi’s rotation at the three-spot with mainstay Wynne Arboleda at one, Dondon Hontiveros at two, Danny Seigle at four and Carlo Sharma or Dorian Pena at five. 

* * * *

Here’s the rest of my projected picks in the first round  No. 4 Powerade, Mac Baracael, No. 5 B-Meg, Lutz, No. 6 Alaska, Dylan Ababou, No. 7 Talk ‘N’ Text, Jason Ballesteros, No. 8 Petron, Reil Cervantes, No. 9 Ginebra, Mark Barroca and No. 10 Barako Bull, Allein Maliksi.

The roster of draft eligibles lists 12 players standing less than six feet with 5-7 3/4 Nino Nabong of the Southern Institute of Technology the shortest.  Magi Sison of UP is the tallest at 6-6 ? and has the widest wingspan at 80 inches. The youngest applicant is UE’s Ken Acibar who’s 21 while the oldest is 29-year-old Chris Concepcion of St. Francis of Assisi.

In the rookie skills test, Barroca surprised the PBA scouts by finishing 107 pushups. By comparison, La Salle’s 6-4 1/2 center Brian Ilad could only do 35. Sison had the highest two-step vertical leap of 11-1 but Graebel and Jason Ballesteros registered the highest one-step vertical leap of 11-2.

Expected to be tapped in the second round are James Martinez of UE, Ariel Mepana of the University of the Visayas, John Raymundo of San Sebastian, Eric Salamat of Ateneo, Sison, Acibar, John Agustin of Adamson and 5-11 1/ 2 Julius Pasculado of Wilbur Wright College of Chicago.    The surprise in the rookie camp was Pasculado, a sharpshooter who went 19-of-25 in the around-the-world shooting drill and 9-of-16 in a one-minute marksmanship display from the elbow.

Although this year’s draft is touted to be deep, I don’t think the harvest is as rich as publicized. There is a nucleus of first round shoo-ins but the backline is shallow. I doubt if the draft will go to a third round unless teams will only want to fill in the blanks since there is no longer an imposition to pay any league a fee for choosing a player. What’s interesting to keep track of is whom the teams will snub and if the “undesirables” will make it to a lineup as free agents in the course of the season.