(c) Inquirer Media Bureau
The scheduling fiasco of the 2018 PBA season could lead into a very deep 2018 PBA draft.
With the draft scheduled in December, 2018, the 2018 season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines will be done by that time, providing a good opportunity to graduating and even the undergraduates of UAAP schools to enter the PBA draft.
If that will come to fruition, these are the five guys that can surely beef up the upcoming draft.
#5.Rey Mark Acuno
Height is might in basketball. The name Rey Mark Acuno is not a popular one today but maybe after the 2018 UAAP season, he will get some hype behind him. Acuno is a legit 6'6 center who has the frame to be an enforcer in the PBA.
In the 2018 Flying V preseason Cup, he shoot some threes and with the way they run their plays, it seems like it will be part of their offense in the upcoming 2018 UAAP. He is also fast for his size and diligent enough to be a good defender.
#4.Matt Nieto
The importance of shooting will continue to rise in the PBA. If Matt decides to enter the 2018 draft, he could be the best sniping prospect in the class. In the 2017 season of UAAP, he was the 2nd most efficient shooter with 49.1% clip.
Nieto has the size and the diligence to be an above average defender in the PBA. He has high basketball IQ and good in making the right passes. So, he can be a high-quality role player in the PBA or he can even become a starter.
#3.Paul Desiderio
Paul is not shy about shooting it. Paul averaged 12.0 attempts in his UAAP career, although he only hit 35.7% of his attempts. Even though his efficiency is atrocious, we can reason out that he has been playing with one of the worst teams in the league for his entire career.
Desiderio is a willing playmaker and capable rebounder. His handle is one of the best in the league. His increased usage of the three-point shot shows that he is on the right direction in his career.
I almost forget, he will just be 21 years old during the 2018 PBA draft.
#2.Thirdy Ravena
Thirdy can forego his final year in college and enter the 2018 draft. Although he is one of the core players in Ateneo, Blue Eagles also have a lot of younger ballers that have the talent to supplant him in the 2019 season.
Ravena has the talent and the hype to be one of the top 3 picks in this draft. In the 2017 season, he averaged 13.1 points, 8.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists. His rebounding is his #1 skill so far but his playmaking deserves respect, too.
#1.Troy Rike
Bigs are still the most coveted guys in the PBA. If Rike enters the 2018 draft, he will be the biggest challenger of Parks for the #1 pick. He is a legit 6'7 player who can handle the ball, shoot it from the outside and battle it out inside.
He played four years for Wake Forest University in United States. He played the forward position there, so he was able to hone his ball-handling and his shooting. He has a projectable shooting motion and has the wits to make plays for his teammates.
His post-game is also alive with his short fade-away jumpshot. He is not afraid to be physical inside. He is not that athletic and his defensive skills are not yet that good but with his size, he has the potential to be a very good rim protector.
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