Loyalty Swap: Draft musical chairs

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For Air21, getting a competitive unit is better than getting one untested rookie. I hope this gamble pays off because they are letting go of a potential

For Ginebra, they will wish Air21 to fail. A doomed season will mean Ginebra will undoubtedly claim the first overall pick of the 2013 PBA Draft.

And just when you think Petron doesn’t need the players they acquired… you are wrong.

Dead wrong.

This is the first post-draft loyalty swap for the coming PBA season. But I won’t be writing about the alleged Petron-Air21-Ginebra trade because the list hasn’t been finalized.

As a blogger, I don’t want to report the story. I can address the rumors or try to put my input on an idea but I have to veer away from the risk of reporting false reports.

I am going to check out the trade I thought B-Meg… oops… San Mig Coffee wasted. The San Mig Coffee Mixers earlier traded their ninth overall pick that turned out to be Vic Manuel and meshed it with relief shooting guard Val Acuna for incoming third year upstart Sean Anthony. It’s no secret that last season I was a Powerade fan (all because of the flaming hands of Gary David) so this trade blows. However, Global Port (the former Powerade squad) needed youth in their big man spot especially when the Tigers ditched Doug Kramer for Jondan Salvador, the often-injured Rabeh Al-Hussaini teamed up with old folks like Jondan Salvador, Romel Adducul, Ricky Calimag, and Alex Crisano (in fairness to Jondan, this was a banner year in his career). The Batang Pier would eventually select 6’6 Jason Deutchman as their other first round pick which means they are indeed padding on their inside strength. Besides, Tim Cone can look at Anthony as a youthful version of Tony Dela Cruz. TDC is defined by many as an extremely favorable player that is willing to sacrifice his points for wins and can play four positions with ease.

So there you have it… until the twelfth pick overall (second pick of the second round) when the Barako Bull Energy Colas came forth to grab Anthony and the rights to select Dave Marcelo for fifth pick Aldrech Ramos.

So this is how the trade looked like. Now if you’re going to ask me who I thought won the initial round in this trade, then here is my list… in chronological order.

1 – BARAKO BULL
Barako Bull impressed me with their decision to hit two birds with one stone. In selecting Ramos, they are taking away what looks like continuing improvement of Doug Kramer’s surge. At the same time also, Ramos and Marcelo virtually plays the same spot and coming off the bench, I think Marcelo fits the bruiser-type role. Meanwhile Anthony is just 26 years old and has become a prominent fixture in his two years with the league. Manuel just turned 27 while Ramos is 24 so age is not an issue in this selection. Moreover, Anthony is a combo forward that can spell Danny Seigle and Ronald Tubid at the slasher spots as well as becoming a power forward when Junel Baculi thinks it’s a good idea to switch to fast mode.

2 – SAN MIG COFFEE
I honestly think they could have done more with this trade. I think it’s unfortunate for the Mixers that the Energy Colas got balls to bully other teams for the first time at their expense. But nonetheless getting the fifth pick of the draft will not be met without consequences. Tim Cone should look for Ramos as their baby version of Kerby Raymundo. The two basically have the same framework in terms of built and skill set. They can also use him to restart his Mutt and Jeff combo with Mark Barroca. However, let’s also remember that Cone has this reputation of letting the rookies start from scratch. Again, Barako Bull is known for not caring what they get (hence their conduit state). I believe they can still keep Sean Anthony by just sending one of their three pointguards (so one of them will grow as a starter) or either Yancy De Ocampo or Rafi Reavis (since when Joe Devance returns one of these guys will lose their playing time)

3 – GLOBAL PORT
In some ways Val Acuna will reunite with Mikee Romero since he also played for the Philippine Patriots in the ABL… but can we really see him excelling outside the playing time of James Yap. Sure, Yap is gone but he’ll find himself playing behind Gary David… and that for him will suck. They still got Vic Manuel whom I thought is a worthy pickup at the ninth spot but there’s a slight chance that the former PBL and D-League MVP will still be available in the tenth round. Plus let’s not forget that they sent away an up-and-coming superstar in Sean Anthony.

Now the only way for my predictions to swirl out of proportions is by having Ramos explode in his first year, one of the guys from Barako Bull to bomb, and Global Port’s additions showing their real strength.

Game over.