The amount of rookies who debuted in the PBA this week is almost a third less than what happened a season ago.
Yes, it’s an import-driven conference. That said, I guess the MPBL can also be another reason. Justine Baltazar, Kurt Reyson, and Brandon Ramirez have seen action in Pampanga’s last game. Unless otherwise, I guess the same can also be said with Mark Nonoy, Francis Escandor, and CJ Catapusan. Meanwhile, Pao Javillonar has decided to help the Letran Knights in NCAA Season 100.
Now that Aldin Ayo has been released from his contract, may Javillonar could get released from his to join Terrafirma Dyip so he can be reunited with Louie Sangalang, Brent Paraiso, and Tommy Olivario to reform their old crazy-good Letran squad.
Maybe they can become the PBA's version of the Villanova Knicks.
Another factor is the whole international player situation. Caelan Tiongson and Avan Nava had similar situations a couple of weeks ago and currently, Dave Ildefonso is at a standstill with the Northport Batang Pier.
Let's just say this as it is. The reason why college players move to Japan and Korea aside from monetary gain is because they want to have leverage in their PBA contracts.
There is a reason why the PBA never needed Asian imports and these leagues keep on getting our younger talent.
Finally, I guess it doesn't help that this batch came after the 2023 PBA Draft class. Last season, the PBA had 45 rookies, including two undrafted players from previous draft classes: Ginebra's Donald Gumaru and NLEX's Edgar Charcos. Luis Villegas, the third pick of the draft, just debuted for the Elastopainters this season.
Anyway, here are the numbers from their first game.
PLAYER | TEAM | DRAFT | DEBUT RESULT |
CJ CANSINO | MERALCO BOLTS | RD 1 | PICK 11 | 081824 - WIN | 2 PTS, 4 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 11 MINS, 1/6 FG |
SEDRICK BAREFIELD | BLACKWATER BOSSING | RD 1 | PICK 2 | 082024 - LOSS | 18 PTS, 4 REB, 1 AST, 25 MINS, 8/20 FG, 1 3PTM |
DJ MITCHELL | BLACKWATER BOSSING | RD 3 | PICK 26 | 082024 - LOSS | 0 PTS, 1 REB, 3 MINS, 0/2 FG |
CAELAN TIONGSON | ROS ELASTOPAINTERS | RD 1 | PICK 7 | 082024 - WIN | 15 PTS, 5 REB, 2 AST, 20 MINS, 5/10 FG, 2 3PTM |
FELIX LEMETTI | ROS ELASTOPAINTERS | RD 1 | PICK 8 | 082024 - WIN | 11 PTS, 3 REB, 2 AST, 18 MINS, 3/5 FG, 3 3PTM |
LUIS VILLEGAS | ROS ELASTOPAINTERS | RD 1 | PICK 3 (2023) | 082024 - WIN | 4 PTS, 1 STL, 5 MINS, 1/1 FG, 1 3PTM |
EVAN NELLE | NORTHPORT BATANG PIER | RD 2 | PICK 14 | 082024 - LOSS | 3 PTS, 2 REB, 2 AST, 13 MINS, 1/4 FG, 1 3PTM |
CJ PAYAWAL | TNT TROPANG GIGA | RD 3 | PICK 28 | 082024 - WIN | 0 PTS, 1 REB, 7 MINS, 0/1 FG |
DIDAT HANAPI | TERRAFIRMA DYIP | RD 2 | PICK 17 | 082124 - LOSS | 2 PTS, 1 AST, 9 MINS, 1/4 FG |
PAOLO HERNANDEZ | TERRAFIRMA DYIP | RD 2 | PICK 22 | 082124 - LOSS | 2 PTS, 1 REB, 19 MINS, 1/3 FG |
AVAN NAVA | SAN MIGUEL BEERMEN | RD 1 | PICK 12 | 082124 - WIN | 0 PTS, 1 AST, 8 MINS, 0/1 FG |
KAI BALLUNGAY | PHOENIX FUEL MASTERS | RD 1 | PICK 4 | 082124 - LOSS | 5 PTS, 3 REB, 1 AST, 14 MINS, 2/4 FG |
JONNEL POLICARPIO | NLEX ROAD WARRIORS | RD 1 | PICK 6 | 082224 - WIN | 5 PTS, 3 REB, 1 AST, 1 BLK, 14 MINS, 2/6 FG |
RJ ABARRIENTOS | BARANGAY GINEBRA KINGS | RD 1 | PICK 3 | 082424 - LOSS | 2 PTS, 2 REB, 1 AST, 2 STL, 30 MINS, 1/15 FG, 0/8 3PTFG |
It's a small sample size but it feels like Sedrick Barefield is just what Blackwater needed as id the best rookie of the bunch. He's not a facilitator and a leader like Stephen Holt, but he gives Blackwater the firepower they lost when they traded Rey Nambatac to TNT.
As far as draft steals, Yeng Guiao must be happy that Caelan Tiongson went to him at seventh, but must be super ecstatic that no one realized the awesomeness of Felix Lemetti at the eighth spot. I may be an Adrian Nocum fan but the Fil-Swede came into the league at the right time. Heck, one of these players might make history by becoming the first rookie to hit the four-point shot.
Meanwhile, I have to say that RJ Abarrientos' debut is the most disappointing. He got all the hype and probably all the incentives regarding his basketball journey but he finished the game with a 7 percent field goal clip. He is a field goal more than what Isaac Go did with a 1-of-14 shooting and maybe Tim Cone is already missing the services of Christian Standhardinger and Stanley Pringle.
Anyway, this is just the first week of the new season. Maybe things will be better as the season wears on.
And hopefully, the stats are going to be available.