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2009 PBA DRAFT
August 2, 2009 @ Market! Market! (Taguig)

There was hardly a surprise when the Burger King Whoopers made their pick in the 2009 PBA Draft at the Market Market Place in Taguig last August 2, 2009. The 6-9 Japeth Aguilar was the consensus number one pick among a field of 52 players who declared themselves eligible for the draft. Aguilar, toiled with the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in the US NCAA (becoming the first homegrown Filipino to do so) for two fruitless seasons before embarking on a pro career.

Before his stint with the Hilltoppers varsity, Aguilar saw action for Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles. It was difficult to pass up on a talent like Aguilar. At 6-9, he is very athletic for his size, is already an excellent shotblocker and moves like a gazelle. With a basketball pedigree (father was former PBA player Peter Aguilar) and tons of potential, it was difficult to envision Japeth busting up. Burger King acquired from the first overall pick from Barako Bulls after trading Gabby Espinas last conference. Aside from Aguilar, Burger King also got a couple of workhorses in the draft in University of Manila's 6-4 Ronnie Matias, and Arellano's 6-2 Orlando Daroya. Matias has played in the PBL and Liga Pilipinas, earning praises as a solid low post operator. Daroya, on the other hand, is a scoring machine who was acquired from Brgy. Ginebra in a three-team deal.

The second overall pick was owned originally by Coca-Cola but a series of trades saw that pick get transferred in the hands of the defunct PBA ballclub Shell, rendering it dormant and useless.

Purefoods got the draft's second best talent in 6-7 Rico Maierhofer of De LaSalle University (DLSU). Maierhofer put up monster numbers with DLSU and Oracle, leading both leagues in rebounding and shotblocking. It will be interesting to see how Maierhofer and Pingris (who plays the same brand of game) mesh up on court. Beefing the Giants' backcourt is North Florida's 5-11 Chris Timberlake who displayed his full arsenal in the PBL finals en route to winning Finals MVP. Timberlake was acquired from Brgy. Ginebra along with Artadi and Reavis for ertswhile Purefoods heartrobs Rich Alvarez, Enrico Villanueva and Celino Cruz.

Coca-Cola entered without a pick in the two-round affair but maneuvered their way to acquire PBL MVP Chris Ross. Ross is a 6-1 do-it-all guard who has been instrumental in leading a rag-tag team in Pharex to the PBL finals. The Tigers are expecting a lot from Ross since they just dealt promising second year player Ronjay Buenafe to get him. The Tigers' other picks were 6-4 Francis Allera and 6'5 PJ Walsham. Allera is a deadeye shooter from UST while Walsham is a banger from DLSU. Of the two, Allera figures to have better chances of getting a spot on the Tigers' roster.

Rain or Shine found itself lucky on two occasions, getting the players they need at the specific spots they were picking. Former UAAP MVP Jervy Cruz gives the team a legitimate inside presence next to 6-7 Jay-R Reyes. Despite being undersized, Cruz plays bigger than his 6-4 frame and has excellent fundamentals. Former Smart Gilas recruit Marcy Arellano is a deadshot from the perimeter and is a promising quarterback. He will be given minutes as a backup for TY Tang.

Alaska Aces raised several eyebrows after selecting 6-6 Mike Burtscher. According to coach Tim Cone Burscher is the most athletic bigman in the draft next to Aguilar and Maierhoffer. He hasn’t been able to show something in the amateurs yet but the Alaska coaching staff is very high on his upside. In the second round, the Aces drafted former MIT star Sean Co, a 6-2 slasher.

Barako Bulls got wide bodied former San Beda star Ogie Menor with the seventh overall pick. He is expected to provide the Bulls another scoring option after losing Cyrus Baguio to Brgy. Ginebra last conference. The Bulls' other picks were a pair of hotshots in FEU's Benedict Fernandez and NU's Edwin Asoro.

The selection of JRU's James Sena by San Miguel Beer rounded up the first round of the draft. Sena is a 6-5 banger who will replace Ken Bono on the roster. Bono was part of the trade that netted the Beermen Arwind Santos.

Sta. Lucia and Talk N Text were the only teams in the draft that had no first round picks. The Realtors' 7th overall pick was traded to Barako Bulls for Gabby Espinas. The team did have two second round picks in big men Mark Benitez and Charles Waters. Only Benitez figures to have a shot in making the team. Talk N Text drafted West Hills' Kevin White, Jimmy Alapag's nephew but is a longshot to make the team.

FIRST ROUND

1. Burger King (via Barako Bull) - Japeth Aguilar (Ateneo de Manila/Western Kentucky)
2. Purefoods - Rico Maierhofer (De La Salle University)
3. Coca-Cola (via Burger King) - Chris Ross (Marshall University)
4. Rain or Shine - Jervy Cruz (University of Santo Tomas)
5. Alaska - Mike Burtscher (Clear Water Christian College, Florida/San Beda)
6. Barako Bull (via Sta. Lucia) - Rogemar Menor (San Beda College)
7. Brgy. Ginebra - Chris Timberlake (North Florida)
8. Burger King (via Talk N Text) - Ronnie Matias (University of Manila)
9. San Miguel - James Sena (Jose Rizal University)

SECOND ROUND

10. Sta. Lucia (via Coca Cola) - Mark Benitez (De La Salle University)
11. Barako Bull - Benedict Fernandez (Far Eastern University)
12. Barako Bull (via Purefoods) - Edwin Asoro (National University)
13. Coca Cola (via Burger King) - Francis Allera (University of Santo Tomas)
14. Rain or Shine - Marcy Arellano (University of the East)
15. Alaska - Sean Co (Mapua Institute of Technology)
16. Sta. Lucia - Charles Waters (Webster University)
17. Brgy. Ginebra - Orlando Daroya (Arellano University)
18. Talk N Text - Kevin White (West Hills Community College)
19. Coca Cola (via Burger King from San Miguel) - PJ Walsham (De La Salle University)

NOT SELECTED
Josh Urbiztondo (Foothill Community College)
Bryan Faundo (Letran)
Marlon Adolfo (Far Eastern University)
Charleston Bocias (St. Francis of Assisi)
Kim Macanig (Philippine Christian University)
Axel John Doruelo (University of the Philippines)
Jim Viray (San Sebastian)
Luis Palaganas (University of the East)
Leemore Boliver (Arellano/Philippine Christian University)
Glenn Bolocon (San Sebastian College-Cavite)
Roel Hugnatan (Adamson University)
Filemon Fernandez III (Fullerton College)
Richard Saladaga (University of San Jose-Recoletos)
Fiel Dino Daa (Letran)
Robert Labagala (University of the East)
Jonathan Pinera (Letran)
Jorel Canizares (University of the East)
Gerry Orera (Adamson University)
Ramsey Williams (University of Hawaii)
Jerome Cenita (San Sebastian College-Cavite)
Jemal Vizcarra (University of Sto. Tomas)
Roser Mangahas (Far Eastern University)
Jerby Del Rosario (Mapua Institute of Technology)
Floyd Dedicatoria (Jose Rizal Univesity)
Jan Philip Villaver (San Sebastian College-Cavite)
Chris Viardo (Pilgrim High School, Rhode Island)
Howard Saddi (Centro Escolar University)
Hafer Mondragon (Letran)
Raymond Aguilar (National University)
Allan Evangelista (University of Sto. Tomas)
Andro Quinday (Letran)
Emmanuel Malasig (Berkeley College)
Jobe Nkemakolam (Ateneo)
Jonathan Uyloan (Golden West College)