If the 2024 PBA Draft happened before Game 2 of the semis between San Miguel and Rain or Shine, as well as Ginebra and Meralco, this is the draft order.
With this in mind, the Elasto Painters are assured of the eighth spot even if they get swept in the semis. Meanwhile, the Bolts can move to the ninth spot and force the Magnolia Hotshots to swap slots if, for some reason, they lose all of the semifinal games.
In some ways, the Bolts need a point guard to replace the injured Aaron Black. But while the Hotshots are still threats and can just pretty much “harvest” a future superstar from their farm squads, they have had recent success in the later parts of the first round with Jerrick Ahanmisi in 2021, Aris Dionisio in 2019, and when they got James Laput in 2021 in the trade that forced Justin Melton out of the Hotshots.
I don’t know much about the picks, but I do know that Rain or Shine acquired Blackwater’s TNT first-round pick.
Aside from the draft order, I will list a couple of names here. You might say this is a mock draft, but I just want to check out the possible names I can see in the draft.
CONVERGE | PICKS 1
2023-24 PHL CUP FIFTH TOP SCORER | KING CARALIPIO – 6.0PPG (11 GAMES)
MY MOCK DRAFT PICK | JUSTINE BALTAZAR – DLSU GREEN ARCHERS
Justine Baltazar is almost a given to play for the Delta Pineda squad. There is a reason why Converge tanked this season, and I guess the former UAAP Mythical Fiver, as well as the reigning and defending MPBL MVP, Finals MVP, and All-Star MVP, is just what the team needed. With that said, Letran may have had a bad NCAA Season 99 campaign, but you can’t discount the shotmaking skills of Kurt Reyson. Coincidentally, Reyson is also part of Pampanga’s championship squad. The way I see it, Baltazar and Reyson will play for Converge and eventually obtain Encho Serrano's services. Hopefully, Converge finds a way to select Reyson in the second round.
BLACKWATER | PICK 2
2023-24 PHL CUP FIFTH TOP SCORER | JAMES KWEKUTEYE – 8.1PPG (11 GAMES)
MY MOCK DRAFT PICK | SEDRICK BAREFIELD - UTAH AGGIES
I guess this all depends on the availability of Sedrick Barefield. I can’t say that Christian David was underwhelmed with his performance, but Ken Tuffin had a better rookie season as far as stretch bigs are concerned. So yeah, if Barefield is available, the Bossings need to use their pick to get him, rather than using it for Kobe Paras. Terrafirma found success with a guy like Stephen Holt leading the way and in some ways, getting Barefield will block a potential Holt-Barefield tandem in Terrafirma.
TERRAFIRMA | PICK 3
2023-24 PHL CUP FIFTH TOP SCORER | MARK LOUIE SANGALANG – 6.0PPG (14 GAMES)
MY MOCK DRAFT PICK | KOBE PARAS – UP FIGHTING MAROONS
In some ways, Terrafirma lucked out in the draft. Even though they got a dud in TJ Miller in the first round, they made up for it with Holt, Kemark Carino, and Mark Louie Sangalang. Team Dyip can use the third overall selection for Kobe Paras. While some players thrive as understudies, Kobe needs to re-acquire his love for basketball by getting the experience.
PHOENIX | PICK 4
2023-24 PHL CUP FIFTH TOP SCORER | RJ JAZUL – 9.6PPG (11 GAMES)
MY MOCK DRAFT PICK | CJ LANE – DLSU GREEN ARCHERS
Ken Tuffin worked for the Fuel Masters. But he is also a stretch combo forward. Phoenix still needs centers. They are littered with combo forwards like Jason Perkins, Tuffin, and Javee Mocon, which is optimal for import-based conferences. Sure, they could get another scorer or a big playmaker to move Tyler Tio to the SG spot, but they need a body to at least pose as a hindrance to the JMFs, C-Stans, and even the Baltis of the league. CJ Lane has height. I don't know if he'll join the draft, but it’s not like teams would disregard a 6'10 prospect.
NLEX | PICK 5
2023-24 PHL CUP FIFTH TOP SCORER | ENOCH VALDEZ – 7.7PPG (13 GAMES)
MY MOCK DRAFT PICK | WILL GOZUM – BENILDE BLAZERS
It’s insane to think that Matt Nieto is the only UAAP player in their Philippine Cup roster. The thing is, NLEX found good players in the NCAA even during their PBA D-League days (once upon a time they had the San Beda core and The Pinatubo Trio.) Like Phoenix, the Road Warriors need to pad on their size. Will Gozum is a former NCAA MVP and a tower that could give the Road Warriors another player to help Robert Bolick on offense.
RAIN OR SHINE | PICKS 6 AND 8
2023-24 PHL CUP FIFTH TOP SCORER | ANDREI CARACUT – 11.7PPG (15 GAMES)
MY MOCK DRAFT PICK | KAI BALLUNGAY – ATENEO BLUE EAGLES / CJ CANSINO – UP FIGHTING MAROONS
The thing about the Elasto Painters is that they are the OKC Thunder of the PBA. Santi Santillan, Andrei Caracut, Adrian Nocum, Gian Mamuyac, Keith Datu, Anton Asistio, Shaun Ildefonso, and Yeng Guiao project Jhonard Clarito are all in their 20s and we still have yet to see Luis Villegas in action. Furthermore, ROS also has the TNT first-round pick in the 2025 PBA Draft because of the deal they got for Jewel Ponferada and Henry Galinato. If a guy like Kai Ballungay is available, he is another Blue Eagle that the fiery mentor can use. And with a combined five draft picks in the first two rounds, I think the Elasto Painters are all good at taking an injured prospect. The Elasto Painters can go with CJ Cansino or Jerom Lastimosa although Coach YG might second-guess himself into picking a Lastimosa judging from experience.
NORTHPORT | PICK 7
2023-24 PHL CUP FIFTH TOP SCORER | WILL NAVARRO – 9.2PPG (10 GAMES)
MY MOCK DRAFT PICK | JUAN GOMEZ DE LIANO – UP FIGHTING MAROONS
Northport has a stable frontline (unless they get farmed,) so I guess they need to strengthen their guard spots. I know Bonnie Tan has his Letran favorite Fran Yu in his roster, but he could take another combo guard to backstop Joshua Munzon. This is where Juan Gomez de Liano comes in. The former Lithuanian and Korean league import is expected to strengthen Northport’s backcourt. With that said, JGL needs to bring back his confidence especially since he played sporadically in the aforementioned leagues.
MAGNOLIA | PICK 9
2023-24 PHL CUP FIFTH TOP SCORER | JIO JALALON – 7.1PPG (10 GAMES)
MY MOCK DRAFT PICK | BEN PHILIPS – DLSU GREEN ARCHERS
Magnolia might use this pick as trade bait, seeing that they can potentially sign and trade Abu Tratter and this pick to one of SMC’s farm teams (*cough* Arvin Tolentino cough). With that said, they can also use this pick to get a big man like Ben Philips. The two-sport athlete could be a better fit for the Hotshots since he is a savage defender and an above-average inside operator. Calvin Abueva is still a good player, but his offense has digressed as his career progressed. Philips could be the offensive spark plug the team could use.
MERALCO | PICK 10
2023-24 PHL CUP FIFTH TOP SCORER | RAYMOND ALMAZAN – 9.5PPG (11 GAMES)
MY MOCK DRAFT PICK | EVAN NELLE – DLSU GREEN ARCHERS
Meralco will seriously benefit from the draft. We all know that Aaron Black is currently nursing an ACL, and Anjo Caram is already 33 years old. While Luigi Trillo got Chris Banchero his career rebirth, the former ABL standout is also 34 years old. I want the Bolts to check out Jerom Lastimosa, but they need an injury-free rookie. While Evan Nelle graduated as a Green Archer, he started his collegiate career with the San Beda Red Lions.
GINEBRA | PICK 11
2023-24 PHL CUP FIFTH TOP SCORER | RALPH CU – 9.8PPG (12 GAMES)
MY MOCK DRAFT PICK | JEROM LASTIMOSA – ADAMSON SOARING FALCONS
At first glance, I can see the Kings forgetting about this pick. Since 2017, the Kings have selected the likes of Jett Manuel, Arvin Tolentino, and Ken Holmqvist. While Tolentino was an anomaly, his career rose when he was traded to Northport. With that said, with an aging roster saddled with injuries, I think the Kings can use the pick to select a good project. Ralph Cu has been a revelation for the Kings and while left unsigned, Kim Aurin found success after playing for their 3X3 squad. Cone is familiar with his surname because of his first grand slam run, but if Jerom Lastimosa falls to 11, I don’t see any reason, especially for a team like Ginebra, to snatch the player and nurture his development.
SAN MIGUEL | PICK 12
2023-24 PHL CUP FIFTH TOP SCORER | JERICHO CRUZ – 11.8PPG (12 GAMES)
MY MOCK DRAFT PICK | LJAY GONZALES – FEU TAMARAWS
I don't like this, but San Miguel has a first-round pick, and someone needs to be a sacrificial lamb. Ljay Gonzales may have the tools to succeed though. It's a tossup between him, Reyson, Perpetual's Jielo Razon, and DLSU's Mark Nonoy. I also see this pick as a trade bait. TNT, the only team to miss out on the first round, is in serious need of depth at the moment. We have seen TNT trade with an SMC team, but while the Beermen hold this pick, consider this is the whammy spot.
I think this became a mock draft of sorts, and I think my picks are all believable at the moment. I purposely stayed away from the Fil-Ams because we don’t know if they are that psyched to join the draft. I also took out guys like Kai Sotto, Thirdy Ravena, Carl Tamayo, Rhenz Abando, and others because unlike some of the names I mentioned here, these players are doing well as imports. And as for Jason Brickman and Taylor Statham, I just got tired of putting their names on draft lists.
Anyway, check out the revised version, possibly after a month.