By REYNALD MAGALLON
A talent-rich draft class is certainly helping reignite the fans’ interest and vigor towards the PBA but it could only be fully achieved if the addition of new talents leads to parity in the league.
This was what Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao stressed after the PBA Rookie Draft Sunday as the outspoken mentor raved at the depth of this year’s batch, saying it would allow other teams outside of the umbrella of SMC and MVP Group to be competitive.
Perennial cellar-dwelling teams like Terrafirma, Blackwater, and NorthPort and even mid-level squads like Phoenix, Rain or Shine and Converge could close the gap in talents against the powerhouse teams especially with San Miguel, Ginebra, TNT and Magnolia having no picks in the first and early second round of the draft.
“The talent level is there. If you are a team looking to strengthen your lineup now, this is the time: record number of draftees, a very deep level of talent,” said Guiao.
“Maganda rito, walang draftees yung mga malalakas na teams, walang nakuha si TNT nang maaga, walang nakuha si SMB, si Magnolia nang maaga, walang nakuha si Ginebra nang maaga,” he added.
The challenge right now for the league is to ensure that the teams with the top picks, keep their players and make sustainable growth in their campaigns.
“Ang problema lang, in one or two years, baka sa kanila naman mapunta yung mga na-pick natin ngayon. Parang incubation yung nangyari,” added the fiery mentor referring to the practice of the other teams trading their top picks to the already powerhouse squads.
Since 2013, no first overall pick remains to the team that drafted them including last season’s top pick Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser who is now with NLEX after being traded by Blackwater.
Terrafirma, which owned three of the last four top picks before this draft, no longer have the players in its roster.
“If you’re serious about competing, this is the time for you to pick your talent and develop that talent. Kung hindi ka serious, e di incubator ka lang,” said Guiao.
“I think we have to put a lot of emphasis on parity, parity para lalong gumanda yung liga natin. Makikita natin na yung mga ibang Asian pro leagues, they’re developing and progressing by leaps and bounds. So, naunahan na tayo, so kailangan humabol tayo,” he added.
