Warning: Undefined variable $column_strips in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 78
2014 PBA DISPERSAL DRAFT IMPRESSIONS: KIA KAMAO
Warning: Undefined variable $column_strips in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 153
Warning: Undefined variable $nocontent in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 236
Warning: Undefined variable $iscovid in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 239
Warning: Undefined variable $FEAT_STORIES in /var/www/pba/single2017/addfunction-ondemand-gitlab-taboola.php on line 685
Warning: foreach() argument must be of type array|object, bool given in /var/www/pba/single2017/addfunction-ondemand-gitlab-taboola.php on line 688
Warning: Undefined array key 0 in /var/www/pba/single2017/addfunction-ondemand-gitlab-taboola.php on line 730
When the 2015 PBA regular season opens later this year, we will see three new teams take to the floor: the NLEX Road Warriors, Blackwater Sports, and Kia Motors.
Of these three, only NLEX has a relatively intact lineup after it bought the existing franchise of the Air21 Express. Blackwater and Kia, on the other hand, had to go through a dispersal draft to fill up its roster spots.
In this second of two parts, I will take a look at the dispersal draft picks of Kia and give my general impression.
First off, however, let’s be realistic. In the absence of the opportunity to directly hire from the PBA D-League, our expectations for both Blackwater and Kia this season are not exactly sky high. Still, there is something to say about choosing the right building blocks for the future.
Kia’s Dispersal Draft Picks:
Reil Cervantes – PF – 6’4 – 28 years old
Mike Burtscher – PF/C – 6’6 – 29 years old
Hans Thiele – PF/C – 6’5 – 30 years old
Alvin Padilla – SF – 6’3 – 26 years old
Jai Reyes – PG – 5’9 – 27 years old
Paul Sanga – G/F – 6’4 – 26 years old
Angelus Raymundo – F – 6’7- 27 years old
Eder Saldua – G – 6’4 – 27 years old
Nic Belasco – F/C – 6’6 – 40 years old
LA Revilla – PG – 5’8 – 24 years old
Joshua Webb – SF – 6’2 – 24 years old
Chad Alonzo – PF – 6’4 – 31 years old
Though there’s hardly any marquee name on this roster, it’s, at the very least, younger compared to what Blackwater put together. As a team looking to build a contender, starting with youth is a generally good move. Having said that, in terms of sheer talent, there isn’t much to rave about here. Cervantes is a feisty hybrid-forward who has a nice midrange game, but he’ll hardy strike fear into his foes. Burtscher and Thiele are barely serviceable bigs whose stats will get padded with additional playing time, but nobody should expect anything stratospheric from either guy. Belasco is an oldie who will teach the young ‘uns while getting ‘em checks. Not a bad deal at all for a 40-year old PBAer.
The backcourt and the wings are where things can potentially shine, though. Reyes and Sanga are potentially dead-eye shooters who can space the floor well while Revilla has the skill-set to be a solid pro playmaker. Hey, if Simon Atkins can put up solid numbers, then I’m sure Revilla can do the same, right?
Oh, and, of course, we all know nobody else is getting Manny Pacquiao or his cousin Rene in the Rookie Draft. Naturally, Kia will pick both guys. I cannot presume to know how either plays, but suffice to say that they will draw in the crowds before the losses pile up and give everyone a reality check.
FYI: Based on PBADraft.net, the projected rookie picks for Kia this year are (aside from the aforementioned Pacquiaos): Frank Golla, Dave Semerad, Philip Paniamogan, and Gab Banal. If we’re being brutally honest (and we should), then the reality is none of these guys really have any All-Star trajectory as of now. Golla can be a solid banger in the post, Paniamogan is streaky, while both Semerad and Banal are hybrid forwards in a league full of bigger-name hybrid forwards. Needless to say, it’ll be tough for these kids.
I don’t want to say Kia tanked in this dispersal draft. I mean, the draft was shallow to begin with, but I also cannot say Kia has built a potential winner because, well, come on, right? Manny will be the main draw here, and the team hasn’t exactly added anybody who can carry this team in an actual basketball game. This team will attract attention due to novelty, but it’ll have to do a lot more to be truly competitive.
Warning: Undefined array key "TESTPAGE" in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 254
Warning: Undefined array key "fb" in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 280
Warning: Undefined variable $thinq in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 318
Warning: Undefined variable $var_sports_vlurb in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 328
Warning: Undefined variable $mindanaoQuake2019 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 442
Warning: Undefined variable $showSolicit_batanes in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 459
Warning: Undefined variable $seagames in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 475
Warning: Undefined variable $tokyoOlympics2020 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 481
Warning: Undefined variable $help_taal in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 490
Warning: Undefined variable $help_ompong in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 525
Warning: Undefined variable $elections_2019 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 538
Warning: Undefined variable $typhoon_2018_redirect in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 543
Warning: Undefined variable $ncov2020 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 555
Warning: Undefined variable $tyhoon2020_marthon in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 578
Warning: Undefined variable $dotnet23 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 585
Warning: Undefined variable $suicide in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 595
Warning: Undefined variable $yearend2020 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 600
Warning: Undefined array key "inqplus_test" in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 609
Warning: Undefined array key "newreadnext" in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 664
Warning: Undefined array key "test" in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 802
EDITORS' PICK
Warning: Undefined variable $data_for_HompageFG_obj in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 816
Warning: foreach() argument must be of type array|object, null given in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 819
Warning: Undefined variable $MR_data_for_obj in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 850
Warning: foreach() argument must be of type array|object, null given in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 850
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
Warning: Undefined variable $bc_tag in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 1239
