PBA Offseason Report Card (Part 2)

A hectic week has prevented me from posting for a while, but I think the schedule's clearing up so I will post away. First is my continuation of my PBA Offseason Repot Card, featuring the five remaining teams, Burger King, Rain or Shine, Sta. Lucia, San Miguel and Talk and Text.

Draft: Japeth Aguilar, Chris Ross

Other Moves: Traded Arwind Santos (for Ken Bono and Marc Pingris), Traded Marc Pingris (for draft picks), Traded Chris Ross and Marvin Cruz (for Ron Jay Buenafe)

New Projected Starters: Wynne Arboleda, Ron Jay Buenafe, Gary David, Beau Belga, Japeth Aguilar

While it may seem like picking first in the draft is an easy job, it really isn't and BK did well. Numerous tempting offers to trade Japeth Aguilar were dangled (reportedly including a package that included MVP Jay Jay Helterbrand), but the Whoppers refused to budge. While Aguilar may seem raw for the pro game, highly athletic and quick 6'10" players with natural shot blocking timing don't grow on the proverbial trees. With Aguilar, the Whoppers finally have a "cornerstone" player to build on, with enough "experienced" veterans to show him the ropes. With another set of draft picks coming next year and the addition of young gun Buenafe, BK figures to be a hot bed for young, developing talent. What is a head-scratcher though was the Whoppers trading away superstar Arwind Santos to San Miguel. Not only does it make SMB stronger, but BK loses their erstwhile franchise player and depriving themselves of what could have been the best shot blocking frontcourt in the league. The only explanation I could find was a possible rift between Santos and Coach Yeng Guiao, as evidenced by the "Spiderman's" very limited playing time in the FIBA ASIA tournament.

BK is slowly investing in the future, so look for the Whoppers to be dominant then. Meanwhile, enlisting loads of young talent while being mentored by the fiery Coach Guiao will ensure that the BK Whoppers will still be highly competitive now. Grade: B

Draft: Jervy Cruz, Marcy Arellano

Moves: Traded Rob Wainwright and Mark Andaya (for Jeff Chan), Signed Mark Telan

Projected New Starters: TY Tang, Sol Mercado, Gabe Norwood, Jervy Cruz, Jay R Reyes

It's always nice when the draft gives you what you need. This year, ROS's biggest need, a rebounder and inside scorer in Jervy Cruz was neatly packaged for them in the first round. Cruz's inside presence as well as Telan's, will be a big help to erstwhile center Jay-R Reyes, as this will allow him to hang out outside, where he is more comfy. Adding Jeff Chan and Marcy Arellano gives an already potent outside shooting team more options from rainbow country. Now, perhaps the basketball gods will finally answer my prayers and have Coach Caloy Garcia not utilize overhyped trigger-happy guard Don Dulay anymore. Hey, a guy can hope right?

It has been quite an offseason for the Elasto Painters. One can already see the potential fastbreaks and boatloads of threes coming the opponents way every time ROS will play. Certainly, the Elasto Painters figure to be both competitive and exciting, good news to all hoops fans. Grade: A

Draft: Mark Benitez, Charles Waters
Other Moves: Traded draft pick (for Gabby Espinas)

Projected New Starters: Denok Miranda, Ryan Reyes, Bitoy Omolon, Gabby Espinas, Dennis Espino

Never considered draft savants, the Realtors did not pick up much in the draft, unless Waters (franchise player Kelly William's bro-in-law), all of sudden becomes a stud. Their best move would have been getting Gabby Espinas, who, albeit undersized, brings a lot of energy in and out of the paint. Espinas will join Williams and Bitoy Omolon in giving the Realtors an energetic and versatile front court, to slowly ease out the aging tandem of Marlou Aquino and Dennis Espino, who were never really in danger of being mistaken for enrgy dynamos. With that frontcourt combining with Ryan Reyes, Denok Miranda and Joseph Yeo, look for an all new (and fast) Sta. Lucia. This is not your Dad's Realtors for sure.

It was a so so off season foe the Realtors, but admittedly, as the best move they had done this offseason was probably funding William's medical treatment for a blood disorder. Grade: B

Draft: James Sena

Other Moves: Traded Ken Bono and Marc Pingris (for Arwind Santos)

Projected New Starters: Jonas Villanueva, Don Don Hontiveros, Arwind Santos, Danny Ildefonso, Dorian Pena

What do you do when you're the deepest team in league? Why, get deeper of course! Trading for Santos, arguably the league's most versatile player, for essentially two replaceable players is one heck of a coup. Now, the reigning Fiesta Cup Champions will figure in both conferences with this Mariana's Trench deep line up. Being two deep at each position with two all stars each, the Beermen will be the most feared team of all. Question is, will the power on paper translate into reality?

Another tremendous of season for the Beermen. It probably helps that "Boss" Danding Cojuangco is your team owner. Grade: A+

Draft: Kevin White

Other Moves: Will trade unnamed player (for Nic Belaso)

Projected "New" Starters: Jimmy Alapag, Mark Cardona, Jared Dillinger, Ali Peek and Harvey Carey

An already deep team that won the All FIlipino Cup, Talk and Text tried to augment their forces by offering numerous deals for Japeth Aguilar. Being unsuccessful, TnT turned to the draft to pick relative unknown Filipino American Kevin White. Now the team with the league's longest name has the longest list of Fil Ams in the roster. As Jason Webb pointed out, TnT might exceed the maximum number of Fil-Ams allowed in a roster. This means that trading for Belasco may mean they need to trade a fellow Fil-Am for him.

Overall, all the Topang Texters have done is create a possible logjam with the FIl-Am situation for themselves. In any case, their less that sterling offseason's grades, while I predict to be between B and C, is on hold until the Belasco trade.

So there it is. It has been quite an off season for the PBA and while some teams have clearly gained and some have bombed, the only thing absolutely sure is that the upcoming season will be one to watch.