2010 PBA DRAFT
The Express named the Ateneo De Manila University pair of frontliners Nonoy Baclao and Rabeh Al-Hussaini as the first and second overall picks. But they may have alienated Al-Hussaini when they picked him second behind Baclao.
Embarrassed, the 6’7” Al-Hussaini was at first speechless when interviewed by media men. Later he admitted he felt slighted by the decision.
Instead of taking responsibility, Air21 coach Yeng Guiao washed his hands of the matter saying he had nothing to do with the decision.
“It’s the management’s call,” said Guiao. “We know what he’s (Al-Hussaini) feeling, but I would try to talk to him and maybe ask the help of Carlo Sharma, his brother.”
The Express then drafted Letran’s Rey Guevarra at no. 3 and picked Fil-Am Sean Anthony at no. 6 to complete one of the most profitable drafts ever by a PBA team.
“They say you can’t teach heart and I believe these four have it. We got all the players we wanted, I could not ask for anything more,” said Guiao.
The biggest surprise winner in the Draft were the Alaska Aces who got the freakishly athletic Elmer Espiritu from the University of the East with the fourth pick which they acquired from the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters after they traded Larry Fonacier.
The Aces then shipped their own no. 10 pick to the Meralco Bolts for Bon Bon Custodio. To complete their Draft Day heist, the Aces picked athletic workhorse in Marvin Hayes from the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers.
So basically the Aces, who just won the past Fiesta Conference title, got the two most athletic players in the draft in Espiritu and Hayes and a talented combo guard in a draft day trade in Custodio. Hey that’s a win anytime in my book.
The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters took in Fil-Am Josh Vanlandingham at no. 5 and then tapped RJ Jazul in the second round. Both players are mature, PBA ready and can contribute immediately to their team.
The Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings added more guards and swingmen to their already overloaded bench drafting last year’s National Collegiate Athletic Association season most valuable player in John Wilson and last year’s NCAA Finals MVP in Jimbo Aquino. They then tapped point guard Rob Labagala.
If anybody in the Ginebra squad bothered to watch Wilson and Aquino in action, then they would have known that both of them are most effective when they have the ball in their hands most of the time. You know, they play like Willie Miller, Mark Caguio, Jayjay Helterbrand and JC Intal.
Will all of these guys be able to share the ball with Ginebra? Or will there be more trades? I’d go with more trades.
The B-MEG Derby Ace Llamados tapped polished, though undersized, big man Pari Llagas at no. 9. and then swingman Val Acuna in the second round. I believe both are PBA-ready players, although Llagas may be too small to play the power forward slot in the professional league.
With the Alaska pick, the Meralco Bolts tabbed another Fil-Am in Gabriel Wienstein. They also picked Ford Arao, Bam Bam Gamalinda and Kashim Mirza.
Powerade picked Jai Reyes. Of course by that time the Tigers already had Renren Ritualo in the bag after an earlier trade.
Barako Bull, already with the worst local lineup in the league, picked Borgie Hermida. Uh, oh. Will this team be the first-ever winless team in a PBA conference?.
Bits and pieces:
Lawyer Chito Salud performed his first official function as PBA commissioner by presiding over the rookie draft rites. If he gets the expected final board approval anytime this week, he will follow in the footsteps of his father, Rudy, who also served as league commissioner in the 1980s.
New Air21 team governor Johan Ramos told media men there was no specific reason why they picked Baclao over former UAAP MVP and Smart Gilas Pilipinas veteran Al Hussaini. He said there was no difference in terms of salary, anyway. The two will both receive the guaranteed contract for rookies worth P150,000 in the first year and P225,000 and P350,000 in the next two seasons.
In a testament to their recruiting program, four students from the Ateneo De Manila University were tabbed in the draft. They include Baclao and Al Hussaini for Air21, Meralco’s Arao and Powerade’s Reyes.
Like Ateneo, University of the East also produced four draftees—Espiritu, Derby Ace’s Llagas and Acuna and Ginebra’s Labagala.
FIRST ROUND
1) Air21 - Nonoy Baclao (Ateneo)
2) Air21 (from Talk N Text via Barako Bull) - Rabeh Al-Hussaini (Ateneo)
3) Air21 (from Meralco) - Rey Guevarra (Letran)
4) Alaska (from Talk N Text via Air21 via Coca Cola) - Elmer Espiritu (UE)
5) Rain or Shine - Josh Vanlandingham (Pacific Lutheran University)
6) Coca Cola - Sean Anthony (McGill University)
7) Brgy. Ginebra (from Air21 via Talk N Text) - John Wilson (Jose Rizal)
8) Brgy. Ginebra (from Barako Bull via San Miguel) - Jimbo Aquino (San Sebastian)
9) Bmeg Derby Ace - Pari Llagas (UE)
10) Meralco (from Alaska) - Shawn Weinstein (St. Edwards University)
SECOND ROUND
11) Meralco - Riego Gamalinda (San Beda)
12) Brgy. Ginebra (from Barako Bull) - Robert Labagala (UE)
13) Bmeg Derby Ace - Val Acuña (UE)
14) Meralco - Ford Arao (Ateneo)
15) Rain or Shine (from Alaska via Coca Cola) - RJ Jazul (Letran)
16) Meralco (from Coca Cola via Rain or Shine) - Khasim Mirza (UST)
17) Barako Bull (from Talk N Text) - Borgie Hermida (San Beda)
18) Coca Cola (from Air21) - Jai Reyes (Ateneo)
19) Alaska - Marvin Hayes (Jose Rizal)
Pre-draft trades
Prior to the day of the draft, the following trades were made and resulted in exchanges of draft picks between the teams.
* October 12, 2009, Air21 is involved in a three way trade between Talk 'N Text and Barako Bull. Air21 was able to get Barako Bull’s 2010 (previously acquired by Talk ‘N Text) and 2012 first-round picks and will also take Talk ‘N Text’s 2013 and 2014 first-round picks. Barako Bull will now have the rights on Orlando Daroya of Talk 'N Text while Talk ‘N Text will get Japeth Aguilar from Air21, who will be loaned to Smart Gilas.
* August 20, 2010, Talk 'N Text acquired Air21's first round fourth pick in a three-team trade involving Air21, Talk 'N Text and Meralco. Josh Urbiztondo from Meralco and the team's first round third pick (Acquired from Coca-Cola after trading Chris Ross in exchange for Paolo Mendoza during Sta. Lucia's tenure in the PBA.[6]) were traded to Air21. Talk 'N Text acquired Air21's first round fourth pick. Mark Cardona from Talk 'N Text went to Meralco.
* March 3, 2010, Air21 acquired Talk 'N Text's first round pick by trading JR Quiñahan, Mark Yee and Aaron Aban in exchange of Yancy de Ocampo and Renren Ritualo.
* February 10, 2009, Barako Bull acquired Barangay Ginebra's second round pick by trading Alex Crisano.
* During the 2008-09 season, Barangay Ginebra acquired Barako Bull's first round pick by trading Mike Holper. Barako Bull's first round draft pick was previously acquired from San Miguel from the Mick Pennisi trade.
* May 12, 2010, Barako Bull acquired Talk 'N Text's 2nd round pick via a three team trade that also involves Sta. Lucia. Talk 'N Text acquires Kelly Williams, Ryan Reyes and Charles Waters from Sta. Lucia. Sta. Lucia gets Ali Peek, Nic Belasco, Pong Escobal, Rogemar Menor and Yousif Aljamal from Talk 'N Text. Barako Bull gets Mark Isip from Talk 'N Text and the team's 2nd round pick.
Draft Day trades
* The Alaska Aces acquired the draft rights to 4th pick Elmer Espiritu from Talk 'N Text in exchange for Larry Fonacier.
* The Meralco Bolts acquired the draft rights to 10th pick Shawn Weinstein from Alaska in exchange for Bonbon Custodio.
* The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters acquired the draft rights to 15th pick RJ Jazul from Alaska in exchange for Rain or Shine's 2011 2nd round pick.
* The Powerade Tigers acquired the draft rights to 18th pick Jai Reyes, Ren-Ren Ritualo and newly drafted rookie Sean Anthony from Air21 in exchange for Powerade's 2011 and 2012 draft pick.
If you're wondering if this is really me on the picture, you're partly correct. It's me without a make-up. I'm a basketball-loving, stat-thumping, 30-something freak of nature. I've been a big-time PBA follower ever since I got BIG (got to work out!). The PBA offseason is probably the most anticipated time of the year for basketball fanatics, it's even more eagerly watched than the actual tourney in itself. At least, that's just my opinion. I created this site solely for the purpose of entertaining myself (that would be a tough job) and finding some purpose in life (wow, heavy!).
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