RD 1 PICK 8 – JAVI GOMEZ DE LIANO (ACQUIRED FROM GINEBRA)
RD 3 PICK 26 – ALLEN MINA
RD 4 PICK 38 – SHAQ ALANES
RD 5 PICK 46 – SANDY SENAL
RD 6 PICK 50 – RED CACHUELA
I thought Terrafirma would take their revenge on everyone by taking the best possible option in the draft. For all humans living or dead that counted them out when Matt Ganuelas-Rosser left the team for TNT and Roosevelt Adams, looking for other options than playing for the team that would give him the best playing time, this is going to be the year where they destroy all of their critics.
Instead, they took a player recuperating from an ACL.
WHAT?
But hey, at least that player is Jeremiah Gray. The dude is a bonafide force at both ends of the court. Inasmuch as I want Terrafirma to get a big man, Gray has the tendency to go apeshit on his foes with his brand of athleticism and...
... wait...
... Gray is now with Ginebra?
For the eighth pick and Bryan Enriquez?
Hmmm...
If we put this in this type of scenario, this move screams garbage trade for all teams involved. I mean... this is the Christian Standhardinger trade all over again. Furthermore, the trade was initiated by Ronald Tubid – former Ginebra Finals MVP and a part of the said C-Stan trade. Why would a pro team, littered with top scouts, mess up the draft?
It’s not like they are at the eighth spot.
Terrafirma is Pick number two!
Inasmuch as I am a Johnedel Cardel fan since his time with DLSU, Magnolia in the PABL, and with the Negros F'N Slashers, not knowing the player they are trading is just wrong.
With that said, I thought Terrafirma got the better in this trade... for some reason.
First of all, I am high on the talent of Javi Gomez de Liano. If you check out my mock drafts, I had the former UP Fighting Maroon at number four as a high-low selection for Converge. Yes, picking both Justin Arana and Jeo Ambohot is a boss move for the FiberXers but it is also a move that could destroy the other. Historically, there is a slim chance that both big men, acquired at the same time, would churn out top-tier careers. Maybe Converge would do away with Abu Tratter and have a twin towers combo a la Alvin Patrimonio and Jerry Codinera or a Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Nonoy Baclao Air21 version?
Anyway, Javi GDL at number eight is like manna from heaven for the Kings, and flipping him for Gray, while a noticeable downgrade in terms of availability, will work well in their favor in the long run.
But then, Terrafirma got more.
Team Dyip had two great picks in the third and fourth round in Letran’s Allen Mina and Lyceum’s Shaq Alanes. Alanes has been fine-tuning his craft in the MPBL and a team in need of depth could use his services. Allen Mina on the other hand is a great pick at number 26. I know he got overshadowed by the gameplays of Rhenz Abando and Brent Paraiso but it’s not like he’s a patsy. The dude can ball and maybe he could blossom into a better pro baller as he reunites with ex-Letran teammate Bonbon Batiller. Mina’s lone field goal in the Letran versus Mapua came at a time when his name has yet to be called.
Terrafirma also took Sandy Cenal in the fifth round and Red Cachuela in the sixth. I guess it’s safe to say that nailing a rotation spot is seriously iffy given the scheme of things.
But let’s go back to the flip.
Terrafirma shouldn’t have taken Jeremiah Gray as the second overall pick. For a team in need of options, they should have taken the best help they could give to help Joshua Munzon, Juami Tiongson, and Isaac Go.
They got that in Javi GDL.
They should thank Ginebra for the power move but hopefully, this is not a mere favor that would turn into a conduit play.