The player that a lot of fans and insiders alike are nosing to be the first draft pick overall is former DLSU spitfire and current SMART-Gilas point guard, JV Casio. With the pitiful Powerade Tigers drafting first overall, it is not far from being logical that they will draft Casio. However, surprises from the previous annual drafts can suggest that a shoo-in bet can sometimes turn out to be not the way how many had predicted.
So who will draft JV Casio on the night of August 28, 2011? Barring any legislative bills that would prevent Casio from being drafted, let's look at each team in their respective draft orders and analyse Casio's impact and chances of being drafted by that team based on respective current rosters.
Because it is near impossible that JV Casio misses the first 5, never mind get in within the two picks, this blogger opted to include only the first 5 teams in the drafting order.
1. Powerade Tigers: Powerade had a woeful season. So horrendous that my brother almost thought a crack squad made up of cigarette-wielding bystanders could beat this team minus Gary David. Kidding aside, Powerade has the unenviable situation where both their front line and back court need a thorough rebuilding (the whole team in short). Celino Cruz isn't the Red Bull guard of old anymore. Jai Reyes, as prolific his shooting is, can only showcase his toughness on defense when challenged by ball-boys during practice. The Powerade Tigers badly need a point guard that is not only deadly offensively but a tough defending point guard also. Those international stints surely has toughened Casio. Even with his top of the line credentials, he can't still be a shoo-in for the Tigers because of the aforementioned need of the team for an inside presence. Dennis Espino isn't 26 years old strong anymore and drafting a big man at number one is a possibility. Which could make JV Casio available for the....
2. Air 21 Express: Known as the "Grocery Queens" of annual drafts, the Express has made it a habit year after year to have some of the best rookies get on stage to model their cap and jacket for photo-ops before settling down in their round table seats and feel satisfied that they have another set of players to give-up in a lopsided trade. A peek at the roster of Air 21 Express would dislodge any thought that they need a point guard. Willie Miller, Paul Artadi, Marcy Arellano, and former SMART-Gilas head hunter Wynne Arboleda compose the backcourt rotation for the Express so getting Casio in the mix would only clog up the lineup more. Or, Air 21 Express will still get Casio and use him as a trade bait to get a solid big man like, say, Gilbert Lao. Not an ideal place for Casio.
3. Meralco Bolts: The Meralco Bolts team needs more to draft a coach than a player. Solomon Mercado remains to be the lead point guard for Meralco but having JV Casio would give the Bolts one of the best point guard rotation in the PBA. Mercado is averaging almost 42 minutes per game (41.88) during their frustrating Governors Cup campaign. Clearly, Casio can take a lot of load from Mercado if they miraculously snag him in the draft. Add to that the return of Mac Cardona and the thought of Casio on the same floor with the latter is a nightmare for the opposite team's defense.
4. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters: From Rajko Toroman's disciplined system to Yeng Guiao's "if-you're-free-shoot-it" philosophy, JV Casio could not be in a more polarizing offensive scheme. Although that is also to say that JV Casio would surely create a lot of scoring opportunities for his teammates once, and even before, he's hot.
5. B-Meg Llamados: The point-guard position in the B-Meg Llamados lineup isn't as promising as the other teams. Soon, Roger Yap will have to bid goodbye to his guard-bullying ways. Jonas Villanueva is constantly plagued with injuries. Drafting JV Casio at the number 5 pick is a steal of "bibilical proportions" (thanks Mico Halili). All there is to say is that a JV Casio-James Yap backcourt tandem is brutal and sadistic.
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