In sports, they say, everyone’s a winner — some just win better than others. We covered the proceedings of the 2013 draft on Sunday and figured out who won, and who didn’t.
Winner: Barangay Ginebra San Miguel
The selection of Greg Slaughter was hardly a secret, but fans of the league’s most popular team still came out in full force at the PBA draft to welcome the 7-foot giant.
Slaughter, for his part, returned the love on Twitter.
It was the PBA draft at its very best — giving fans of the league a fresh start and boundless hopes for the new season.
Winner: James Forrester
PBA/Nuki Sabio
PBA/Nuki Sabio
During the first installment of our mock draft this year, we wrote: “He might be higher up on this list if he had played for a more popular school. As it is, we wouldn’t be surprised if he moves up.â€
Turns out, the former Arellano star moved up in the draft anyway, going to Ginebra with the fourth overall pick. Cream has a way of rising up to the top, and we’re excited to see what Forrester does in the PBA.
Loser: Barako Bull Energy
Here’s what we really think about those Barako Bull trades:
(gets shocked by 60,000 volts of electricity)
Just go read the posts on the comments section on this site. Or on Twitter. Or on Facebook.
Loser: The PBA’s credibility
Sports5/Pranz Kaeno Billones
Sports5/Pranz Kaeno Billones
PBA commissioner Chito Salud issued a statement on Monday, saying he saw no blatantly lopsided trades during Sunday’s draft.
We grant that the commissioner makes a fair point, when each pick is taken on its own. But looking at the big picture and taking Barako Bull’s moves in context leaves us less than satisfied. There’s something amiss.
While the PBA is coming off another banner season under Salud’s leadership, these things erode the credibility of the league. The impact may not be apparent yet, but it may end up hurting the PBA down the line.
Winner: GlobalPort Batang Pier
Sports5/Pranz Kaeno Billones
Sports5/Pranz Kaeno Billones
GlobalPort’s trade of Gary David last month signalled a youth movement, and the Batang Pier came out of the draft with a full harvest. Terrence Romeo, RR Garcia, and Nico Salva are blue-chippers, Isaac Holstein has enough potential to be a contributor, and LA Revilla is a gamer. If they develop as planned, then it might not be soon before we start saying, “Hey, I almost forgot, Gary David used to play for that team once upon a time, didn’t he?â€
Winner: Bros everywhere
Bro!
Sports5/Pranz Kaeno Billones
Sports5/Pranz Kaeno Billones
Sports5/Pranz Kaeno Billones
Sports5/Pranz Kaeno Billones
Winner: Isaac Holstein
Sports5/Pranz Kaeno Billones
Sports5/Pranz Kaeno Billones
A few years ago, Isaac Holstein thought that he’d left the game of basketball behind for good. Now, he’ll be signing a lucrative new contract in the PBA. We’re hoping he makes the best out of his second shot at a basketball career.
Loser: Jeric Teng
Sports5/Pranz Kaeno Billones
Sports5/Pranz Kaeno Billones
We don’t mean to be harsh, but falling to the No. 12 spot certainly counts as a loss for Jeric Teng, especially when everyone was expecting him to go quickly in the first round. But it’s not a total loss, since he ended up at Rain or Shine under coach Yeng Guiao — the perfect spot for a gunner like Jeric Teng. In a year’s time, this loss could very much be a win.
Winner: Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
PBA/Nuki Sabio
PBA/Nuki Sabio
Yeng Guiao isn’t just good; he’s lucky and good. He came into the draft hoping to address two needs: ceiling and wing scoring. He filled those needs by taking Raymond Almazan and Alex Nuyles in the first round.
Then Jeric Teng dropped to the Elasto Painters like manna from heaven. Guiao had gotten lucky in the past too — he had the opportunity of drafting eventual stars Cyrus Baguio, Larry Fonacier, and Jeff Chan in the second round in past years.
Rain or Shine’s draft haul was so good that the team decided take model Ervic Vijandre in the third round. Hey, at the very least, he’d look great in the photo op. Or in this selfie:
Loser: JR Cawaling
Sports5/Pranz Kaeno Billones
Sports5/Pranz Kaeno Billones
A few years ago, JR Cawaling was regarded as one of the top wingmen in the amateur ranks. He even earned an invitation to the SMART-Gilas Pilipinas national team under Rajko Toroman, underscoring his status as one of the top college players in the country.
It has been downhill since, and the decline has been so steep that he was picked one spot behind Ervic freaking Vijandre in Sunday’s PBA draft.
Winner: Ryan Buenafe
PBA/Nuki Sabio
PBA/Nuki Sabio
Alaska’s pick of Ryan Buenafe at No. 8 came as perhaps the biggest surprise of the draft. Prior to Sunday’s event, the former Ateneo forward was projected to go in the second round.
Other coaches were in disbelief over the development. One coach we spoke to said he thought there had to have been a trade involving the pick.
But Alaska coach Luigi Trillo saw something in Buenafe that no one else did. When the new PBA season rolls around, we’ll see if Trillo ends up in the winning or losing column when it comes to his choice of Buenafe.
Loser: Gary David and Jared Dillinger’s tailors
For years, the Meralco Bolts have been making trade after trade to try to improve their team, the very epitome of a win-now mentality. As a result, the team has had few chances to improve in the draft. On Sunday, the Bolts were virtually saling ketket during the whole affair, as they didn’t select until the third round of the proceedings — after the event had gone off the air.
As a result, Gary David and Jared Dillinger had little opportunity to show off their fashion sense. Fans of the Bolts will have to wait until the season opening to catch a longer glimpse of their idols.
Winner: Talk ‘N Text Blue Eagles
Sports5/Paul Mata
Sports5/Pranz Kaeno Billones
The Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters selected former Ateneo players JP Erram and Oping Sumalinog in the draft, continuing the franchise’s Blue Eagles theme. They join Larry Fonacier, Rich Alvarez, Noy Baclao, Eric Salamat, and Jai Reyes along with coach Norman Black, as well as assistants Sandy Arespacochaga, Gene Afable, and Jamike Jarin.
Loser: Yousef Taha
Yousef Taha has played three conferences in the PBA. He is now on his fourth team after being dealt to Petron on draft day. Tahahahahaha?
Winner: The Webb Family
Sports5/Paul Mata
Sports5/Pranz Kaeno Billones
As Jason Webb noted in the television broadcast, the drafting of his nephew Jason marked an opportunity for their family to become the first three-generation clan in the PBA. Freddie Webb was one of the league’s earliest stars, while Jason enjoyed a steady career at Sta. Lucia and Tanduay. Webb was taken by Air 21, where he reunites with former La Salle coach Franz Pumaren, giving him a clear shot at continuing his family’s PBA legacy.
Winner: The ‘Draft LA Revilla’ movement
Sports5/Pranz Kaeno Billones
Sports5/Pranz Kaeno Billones
LA Revilla was a trending topic on Twitter on Sunday afternoon even before his name was called in the draft. The beloved La Salle guard showcased the strength of his following, with fans on the Internet demanding that he be taken. Their wish was finally fulfilled in the third round after Revilla was selected by GlobalPort, leading to a small cheer at the venue and bigger cheers online.
Who are your winners and losers in this year’s draft? Post them in the comments below.
http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/2013-pba-draft-winners-and-losers
