Advertise with SNM

2007 PBA Mock Draft (1st Round)

On: 10 August 2007

What I will do in section is try to make a projection on how the draft will go using the information and data I gathered from various sources. Please take note that I am still including Joe Devance in my list since there is still no official word yet as of this writing if he was taken off the list. Once Joe Devance is not cleared, I will to make the necessary changes in this mock draft.

First Round

1 - Welcoat: Samigue Eman. The team needs a big man to lessen the pressure on J.R. Reyes. What better way to address that problem by picking a 6-10 athletic talent named Samigue Eman. He was first thrust into the limelight when he played varsity ball for the University of Mindanao Wildcats 5 years ago. After that, his sheer size, athleticism and coordination skills just continue to improve. He may not make a big impact initially, but he has lots of potential to secure the future with the team.

2 - San Miguel: Joe Devance – Rumors that suggest JC Intal will be taken by San Miguel still persists, but I don’t think the team needs another forward that will only duplicate the roles of Dondon Hontiversos, Lordy Tugade, Larry Fonacier and Chris Calaguio. What they need is to secure their future frontline by picking the best power forwards available in the draft, Joe Devance. Joe Devance can play all frontcourt spots, has size and versatility. However, with the way the team picks players from the draft (remember Hubalde?) anything can still come up in the last minute and either Devance or Intal may not be considered at all.

3 - Sta. Lucia: Ken Bono – With Samigue Eman and Joe Devance possibly gone at this point, the next big man available for Sta. Lucia is Ken Bono. There is no question that the team needs a reliable big man to complement Kelly Williams, relieve Dennis Espino at the post and, possibly, take over the slot from the aging Marlou Aquino. This is also the best time for a transition period from Aqunio to Bono with the former teaching the rookie the essence of defense. Ken Bono already has the scoring potential and his touch can extend up to the three-point area, a great fit for a team fond of shooting those threes.

4 - Coca Cola: JR Quiñahan – Like the first three teams, the Coca-Cola Tigers also need size to help out Ali Peek in the middle. They have been hurting in that position after the one-sided trade that sent Billy Mamaril and Rafi Reavis to former sister-team, Ginebra. With the new management and out of the San Miguel family, it is expected that the team will not compromise their chances anymore by picking JR Quiñahan. Quiñahan can block shots (he led the PBL in that category the past conference) and is a good low-post rebounder because of his notable wingspan.

5 - Air21: JC Intal – If JC Intal is still available at this point, it would be illogical for the Express not to pick him. Pair him up with Niño Canaleta and Arwind Santos and you will have a team that is deep in athleticism and speed. JC Intal would also complement the perimeter shooting and slashing of Gary David. Once Intal is in their fold, the Express may now look at signing some veterans to help guide the youngsters and instill discipline in their defense.

6 - Alaska: Ryan Reyes – Mike Cortez needs a back-up. Alaska needs assurance that they can rely on somebody if Cortez gets injured. What a better way to address these concerns than picking Ryan Reyes, a new generation Fil-Am guard to invade the PBA. There are other guards who can fill the reliever slot, such as Jonas Villanueva and Marvin Cruz, but Alaska history of draft picks tends to favor Fil-Ams over homegrown talents. Hence, it is not difficult who will be pick fist among the available point guards.

7 - Alaska: Doug Kramer – With their point-guard position secured, this is a chance to shore up their frontline with a role player. Doug Kramer fits this mold and has similar playing style with another Alaska Aces, Reynel Hugnatan. Tim Cone’s emphasis on team defense and triangle offense matched Kramer’s penchant for collaring the loose balls (led the PBL in that category the past conference) and frontcourt defending.

8 - Air21: Jonas Villanueva – At this point, they may be looking for a reliable point guard who can be a reliever of Wynee Arboleda and provide instant stability and scoring from the bench. Aside from Ryan Reyes, a promising point guard in this draft that would fit nicely in the Express is Jonas Villanueva. Jonas Villanueva would be a good pick for the Express because of his size, outside shooting and playmaking ability. His great peripheral vision would complement the untiring positioning of Gary David in the wings and Arwind Santos in the post.

9 - Coca-Cola: Yousif Aljamal or Joel Solis – Looking for more muscles down low, the Tigers would be better off picking either Yousif Aljamal or Joel Solis. Yousif Aljamal started as a power-forward in college, but could shift to the small forward in the pros. He has a solid perimeter shooting skills, but his defense might be a suspect when playing against bigger and stronger opponents. Joel Solis, on the other hand, is a very athletic player with great leaping ability. He has the size and good potential in the future, but will most likely start as a role player.

10 - Red Bull: Ronjay Buenafe or Jeff Chan – With Lordy Tugade and Larry Fonacier gone, the Barakos need a high-scoring swingman who can heat up instantly and play both ends of the court. Ronjay Buenafe fits this description to a tee and has a feisty attitude in defense despite the 6’1” frame, but so does Jeff Chan plus he has the height at 6’3”. Either choice would make the Barakos forget about either Tugade or Fonacier.

0 comments on "2007 PBA Mock Draft (1st Round)"

Post a Comment