PBA Draft: Grades are In (part 2)

Rain or Shine (Grade: A)

Notable Additions: Gabe Norwood (Draft 1st round), Solomon Mercado (traded from Alaska), TY Tang (draft 2nd round)

Notable Subtractions: Joe Devance (traded to Alaska)

Notes: When you're the cellar dweller, there is little room to go down, but this team figures to go up.  Obviously, Norwood will have an immediate impact on the team with his court generalship and athletic abilities, and he will most likely surface as the team's go-to guy.  Trading Devance for Mercado was quite a coup, since Devance was disgruntled with the coaching staff anyway, while Mercado gives them another quick and agile guard.  A potential steal in the draft is Tang, who is, at 5'7", tiny by PBA standards, can give the paintmasters a quick, heady guard to run the team.  A run and gun team with a three guard rotation like Norwood, Mercado and Tang is probably already causing Coach Caloy Garcia to salivate with anticipation.

Red Bull Barako (Grade: C)

Notable Additions: Gabby Espinas (Traded from Air 21) Larry Rodriguez (draft 1st round), Jeff Chan, Mark Cuevas (draft 2nd round), 

Notable Subtractions: Topex Robinson (released to Purefoods), Paolo Bugia (released to Air 21)

Notes:  Red Bull was probably looking for more size upfront, since most of their marquee big men (Mick Penisi, Mike Hrabak, Rich Alvarez) play better offense on the outside, but they took what they could from the draft.  Larry Rodriguez played big in the PBL finals, but he is still not the post threat that would make this team more complete.  Jeff Chan will bring in his outside sniping (just under 40% in the PBL), and could replace the loss of Larry Fonacier.  He will, however find lots of competition behind Cyrus Baguio, Leo Najorda, Kiko Adriano and the like.  Overall, their draft picks don't seem to make the Barakos better, at least on paper.  They will need to magic of Coach Yeng Guiao to squeeze the best out of his players again if they want to contend for the title.

San Miguel Beermen (Grade: B)

Notable Additions: Jay Washinton (traded from Talk and Text), Bon Bon Custodio (draft 1st round)

Notable Subtractions: None so far

Notes:  After dropping their old name (Magnolia), the beermen began to search for a point guard.  While veteran Olsen Racela remains a great player, they are beginning to look towards the future.  They are pinning their hopes on Bon Bon Custodio, a 6'0" guard from San Mig Coffee in the PBL who played well enough in the semi finals to merit a second look from the Beermen.  Custodio will have the luxury of learning from nt only Racela, but also Mike Cortez, so there will be no rush on his development.   The real story of their off season is netting Jay Washington for a draft pick.  Washington gives them size, speed and an outside shot, which they hope would offset the loss of Danny Ildefonso, who is again slowed by injuries.  If Washington can fit into the system right away, the Beermen look to go long into the post season.

Sta. Lucia Realtors (Grade C)

Notable Additions: Kelvin Gregorio (draft 1st round), Chito Jaime, Christian Cabatu (draft 2nd round)

Notable Subtractions: None so far.

Notes: Winning the franchise's first All Filipino crown is more than enough motivation to keep the team's core intact.  That's why most of Sta. Lucia's picks are more for upgrading the future rather than add anything significant. THey would have been better served picking a point guard like TY Tang, though, since Paolo Mendoza seems to have a difficult time with the point guard slot.  The Realtor's picks, including first round pick Kelvin Gregorio will face uphill battles to find roster spots, let alone playing minutes.   

Talk and Text Phone Pals (Grade: A+)

Notable Additions: Jared Dillinger, Jason Castro, Rob Reyes (draft 1st round), Pong Escobal (draft 2nd round)

Notable Subtractions: Jay Washington (traded to San Miguel)

Notes: The busiest team in the draft also seems to have benefitted the most.  Giving away forward Jay Washington netted them an extra pick and they used that one and their other two first round picks in the best way possible.  Early picks Dillinger and Castro are athletic and cat-quick guards that will definitely boost an already strong Talk and Text backcourt while Reyes and Escobal will provide a spark in the frontcourt.  There will be no more excuses for Talk and Text.  Management really did their homework in this year's draft.