The 2023 PBA Draft: Assessing the teams' draft picks
PBA Draft Evaluation
Jay P. Mercado
A record 124 rookie applicants submitted their intent to join the PBA draft that was held at the Ayala Center Market Market in Taguig yesterday. From the batch, 79 were drafted by 11 of the 12 PBA teams.
Not all 79 though are expected to be named in the final rosters. For those who won’t get signed up, the automatic free agents will have several options to consider: trying out for other PBA teams, joining other leagues like the MPBL or the PBA D-League or playing for the teams that drafted them in the PBA 3x3.
But through the sheer number of applicants alone, it is almost a lock to concede that this may be one of the richest rookie batches of all time.
It has also become apparent that PBA teams have shown partiality to Fil-foreigners, with 10 of the first 12 picks having born or studied overseas. Teams also looked for size as only the 10th pick, BJ Andrade, who played for the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the UAAP, was listed below 6 feet tall among the first rounders.
Let’s evaluate the draft picks of the teams and how these freshmen can help their respective teams from the getgo…
Terrafirma – Stephen Holt, Taylor Miller, Kenmark Cariño, Mark Sangalang, JB Bahio, Tommy Olivario, Darnie Cuntapay, Kenneth Villapando, JJ Pido, Enrique Caunan (10 picks)
Terrafirma is in dire need of help in all areas. Initially, Coach John Cardel mentioned their need to go big in the absence of a legitimate center in their local lineup. In the end, the team opted to get the best talent available in Holt, making it their best decision for the night. They brought in another guard, Miller, who’s expected to lend firepower in their guard roster led by Juami Tiongson. Adding big man Cariño also filled up a roster need. The question though is how long these new players will stay with the franchise that’ll make them a contender. The likelihood is that they, as ROS Coach Yeng Guiao put it, are presently being incubated while being prepared to move to the top-tiered teams. For now, though, Holt’s arrival can get fans excited but will it be enough to carry the team past the cellar?
Grade: B+
Blackwater – Christian David, James Kwekuteye, Clifford Jopia, Archie Concepcion, Dariel Bayla (5)
Quite unusual for Blackwater, a franchise known over the years for its penchant to draft heavily, opted to be conservative and took in only 5 players from the pool. But they secured practically every position they need to shore up – a big man, a do-it-all forward, a couple of tall guards and another versatile wing. And given the team’s lack of depth at all fronts, Coach Jeffrey Cariaso made full use of the rich draft by getting players who can fill up the gaps. It won’t come out a surprise if ever these 5 players actually make it to the Bossing’s final cast of 15. And if their faith on the young David’s potential is fulfilled, we could be seeing a young run and gun team contending for a potential semifinals berth.
Grade: A-
Rain or Shine – Luis Villegas, Keith Datu, Jr., Henry Galinato, Adrian Nocum, Sherwin Concepcion, JC Cullar, Larry Arpia (7)
Prior to draft night, Coach Yeng Guiao already made known his intention to draft big players, not just to contend against the Fajardos and the Standhardingers and the Aguilars, but also because his frontline is manned by only 3 big men – veterans Beau Belga and Jewel Ponferrada and up and coming star Santi Santillan. But Guiao also said he won’t hesitate to draft the best available talent, especially in the first round. By picking Villegas, Datu and Galinato, he solved his frontline depth right away. By getting Villegas, despite still being injured, he got the best talent available. Taking Datu on the other hand, fills the need for a big. But the best decision of the night turned out to be the team’s behind-the-scene arrangement with TNT to get Galinato for the latter’s 2025 first round pick. The UP bruiser was taken in at 15th overall, but ROS gets a chance for a Top 12 player two years from now in what perhaps may be another rich draft.
Grade: A-
Batang Northport – Zavier Lucero, Cade Flores, Brent Paraiso, Fran Yu, John Amores, Jan Sobrevega, Ian Herrera, John Bauzon, Joemari Lacastesantos, Nikko Paranada, Regie Boy Basibas (11)
This is another franchise known to draft heavily. Just like Terrafirma and Blackwater, it may perhaps be their strategy to infuse young blood into the team. Getting Lucero was the logical move at #5, considering the versatile UP forward was penciled to be drafted as high as #2. Coach Bonnie Tan then opted to acquire two of his Letran stars in Paraiso and Yu while acquiring the physical Flores to provide heft inside. But for a team that has 6 veterans who are 33 years old and above, it may be the perfect opportunity for Tan to bring players he’s comfortable with and take over the veterans’ roster spots in a year or two. That, or have their up and coming stars wind up with the top-tiered teams while acquiring the veteran stars to keep them “seasoned.”
Grade: C+
Phoenix – Ken Tuffin, Raffy Verano, Ricci Rivero, Matthew Daves, John Lloyd Clemente, Daniel Atienza, Joe Gomez De Liano, Theo Flores (8)
The Fuel Masters, drafting 6th, opted for the best talent available in Ken Tuffin, giving them added firepower from beyond the arc. He and Rivero would add versatility to Phoenix’s wings that already has Javee Mocon, Tyler Tio and RR Garcia. It’s interesting though Coach Jamike Jarin didn’t get a center – opting for young forwards like Verano, Daves and Clemente. What may be lacking with Phoenix though is the presence of a versatile forward who can swing from 3 to 4. Perhaps, Jarin is hoping he can get that from the two Ateneans or from the NU Bulldog rookie. While Phoenix would be extremely fun to watch in Season 48 because of their youth and spunk, their draft decisions may not be enough to lift them to becoming a semifinals contender at least for the next two seasons.
Grade: C+
NLEX – Richie Rodger, Enoch Valdez, JM Nermal, Dominick Fajardo, Francis Giussani, Lorenzo Navarro (6)
In the first surprise move of the night, NLEX opted for another point guard to join the backcourt duo of Kevin Alas and Matt Nieto. But Rodger didn’t come without impressive credentials, having been part of New Zealand’s Tall Blacks pool while playing 5 seasons in the NBL. The Fil-Kiwi may be the draft sleeper – it’s a matter of being able to blend well with his teammates and follow the run and gun system of Coach Frankie Lim. The Road Warriors then took in a shooting guard in Valdez and a forward in Nermal but for a team that’s lacking in ceiling and with Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser still in the injury list, Lim may have to find ways to compensate inside if only to get their transition game going. As for the other draftees, they’ll be hard pressed to find a roster spot in an already guard-heavy roster unless the team unloads some of their veterans and opt to rebuild with a young nucleus.
Grade: C
Meralco – Brandon Bates, Jolo Mendoza, Zach Huang, Jessie Sumoda, Shean Jackson (5)
Another team that’s lacking in size which made it understandable for Coach Luigi Trillo to go for a big man in the 6’8 Brandon Bates. Bates though, has underwhelmed, particularly in the UAAP while playing for DLSU so it remains to be seen if his potential can be fully developed. The surprise pick was Jolo Mendoza in the 3rd round when they could have risked getting big man in the 6’5 power forward, Patrick Maagdenberg. Mendoza joins a bevy of point guards that the Bolts already have in Chris Newsome, Chris Banchero, Anjo Caram and Diego Dario. Huang and Jackson are unlikely to be in the final lineup with Sumoda having a better chance being a 6’5 center who plied his wares at San Sebastian.
Grade: C
Converge – Schonny Winston, BJ Andrade, Bryan Santos, John Louise Delos Santos, Inand Fornilos, King Caralipio, Rhinwill Yambing, Kamron Vigan, Raymond Binuya, MJ Garcia, Andree Flores, Jonathan del Rosario (12)
The FiberXers was the most prolific in the draft, taking in 12 applicants from the pool. Selecting 9th overall, Coach Alden Ayo opted to pick the best talent available in former DLSU Green Archer point guard, Schonny Winston. Winston is expected to make an immediate impact and most likely will start for the team right away. And when everybody was expecting him to draft his former player, Ricci Rivero next, he instead brought in another court general, Andrade. He then secured the 6’5 forward Santos from UST but it won’t be a surprise if Ayo goes deep into his draft picks to include one or two in the final roster.
Grade: C+
Barangay Ginebra – Ralph Cu, Kim Aurin, Franz Abuda, Brandrey Bienes (4)
The Ginebra faithful continued to display their faith and loyalty to their favorite team, lending support even if they will only draft 11th in the second round. But knowing Coach Tim Cone’s preference to rely heavily on a 7-8 veteran nucleus, plus the recent acquisition of Mav Ahanmisi from free agency, the coaching staff probably felt they didn’t need much from the pool of freshmen. Ginebra is solid at all fronts and remain as one of the top 3 title favorites even without a rookie acquisition. They’ll most likely acquire at most two new players to join the team in the final roster but will probably end up warming the bench most of the time.
Grade: B-
Magnolia – Patrick Maagdenberg, Tonton Peralta, Warren Bonifacio, Christian Bunag (4)
If Ginebra had to settle wait for their turn to pick 23rd, Magnolia was even worse, not owning picks in both the first and second rounds. They have 14 players in their roster at present and may only be interested in signing up one rookie. Two of their 4 picks are bigs – Maagdenberg at 6’5 and Bunag at 6’7, both regarded as raw talents. Will Coach Chito Victolero be patient enough to develop these bigs or will he continue to rely on his frontine rotation made up of Rafi Reavis, Ian Sangalang, Calvin Abueva, James Laput and new hires Abu Tratter and Joseph Eriobu? The likely scenario is for them to apprentice either of their two bigs or not sign anyone from their picks and get a free agent to complete their roster.
Grade: B-
SMB – Troy Mallillin, Jayson Apolonio, Ichie Altamirano, John Gob, Jayvee Dela Cruz, Jamel Ramos, Kyt Jimenez (7)
It’s not a surprise that the three SMC teams, all title favorites, didn’t expect much from the draft. These 3 prefer to be more active in the free agent market, and given the depth of their lineups, would most likely find no need for a young player to join the roster. SMB has 13 reliables at present, at least 10 of them capable of starting in another team. But if they have one position they wanted to fill, it’s at small forward, which they did by getting Ateneo’s Troy Mallillin. It’s unlikely though that Mallillin would be able to crack the regular rotation, even earn a roster spot but the team is known to have an abundance of practice players to help simulate the moves of their opponents. Don’t be shocked though if the Beermen flounder in their campaign, one of the first rounders in this draft may end up in SMB’s lineup soon.
Grade: B-
TNT – none
The Tropang Texters didn’t find anyone worthy enough to draft, given that their turn would only happen on the 33rd selection. They may be right, given the depth of their lineup, as well as their preference to have veterans running the team. The team doesn’t really need much help, given that they nearly won the Philippine Cup last season. But they still managed to make a quick move by swapping their 2025 first round pick to ROS for Galinato. With Poy Erram frequently injured and Kelly Williams now 41 years young, Galinato being trained by TNT’s veteran bigs may go a long way for his career development. And given TNT’s penchant to acquire great talents from their sister team, NLEX, the rookie draft is not exactly a well of fortune for them.
Grade: B
