LOOKING AT THE KIA EXPANSION DRAFT
One of the biggest noisemakers in terms of PBA news (outside the San Mig Coffee Grand Slam) is the entry of KIA Motors in the country’s pro basketball league due to the presence of Manny Pacquiao as its (playing?) coach.
With Pacquiao throwing his name into the hat of draft hopefuls, one wonders if anyone would actually draft him (whether to wrangle a deal out of Kia). But I think that the other teams should be respectful of the Pacman’s place in Kia so as not to draft him. But that’s just me.
Let’s take a look at the results of their Expansion Draft.
Power Forwards: Reil Cervantes, Hans Thiele, Nic Belasco, and Chad Alonzo
Small Forwards: Mike Burtscher, Paul Sanga, Angelus Raymundo, and Joshua Webb.
Guard: Alvin Padilla and Elder Saldua
Point Guard: LA Revilla and Jai Reyes
They can place Reil Cervantes or Hans Thiele at the five-spot but they are not centers. Cervantes sometimes played that position while at FEU in the UAAP but in the pro league, with a height of 6-4? Nope. He won’t have the strength, height, or experience to guard guys like Talk ‘N Text’s Asi Taulava, San Miguel Beer’s JuneMar Fajardo, or Barangay Ginebra’s Greg Slaughter. They have their work cut out for them at that spot.
Thiele can play in the PBA; it is just unfortunate that when he was showing his worth with Barako Bull Energy Boosters during his first year in the league he gets traded to Meralco where he was either misused or not used.
Hopefully, Thiele, the former UE forward can show that he belongs. Could be a player ala Marvin Hayes who is a silent operator but does a lot.
Mike Burtscher has always been one of my favorites. I rooted for him even if he was planted on the deep end of Alaska’s bench. With Air21, he showed what he can do and provided Franz Pumaren with quality minutes. KIA has a player with their own version of Sean Anthony.
Paul Sanga has to show that he can shoot in the pros. But the problem with shooters is when their shot isn’t falling what else can they do? Sanga needs to either be James Yap deadly or has to add a slashing move to his arsenal for him to be a keeper in the pros.
LA Revilla will finally be allowed to play and run free. The problem is he doesn’t have enough weapons on the team to help this team. But if he picks his spots well – knowing when to attack and try to score and when to find an open teammate – then he will be playing himself out of this lineup and a promotion to another team (unless KIA holds on to him).
This team will need a lot of help not only on the court but off it. This won’t be the team that Pacman and his coaching staff (Glenn Capacio, Louie Gonzales, and Rob Wainwright) will want and they will have to patiently build through the draft or through trades. And speaking of the coaching staff. They will be just as crucial in shaping this team.
On the other hand, I want to see these players respond as they will be playing for their PBA lives. And sometimes that can make the difference in what could be a long season.
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