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The third conference of the 43rd season of the PBA is now on-going. That means the 2018 PBA draft is so near so the aspiring participants should prepare their papers already.
The draft order is shaping up to have a lot of similarities from the past drafts with Blackwater and Columbian vying for the #1 pick. The SMC teams are situated at the back-end but we are already familiar with their ways to be comfortable that they will remain there.
So, here is the latest version of our mock draft!
#1 Blackwater - Bobby Ray Parks Jr. (#1 in Last Mock Draft)
Bobby Ray Parks made the right decision to play for the current season of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League. The slow nature of it should not affect his preparation for the draft.
He is just toying with the competition in MPBL as his current statline suggests; 20.5 points, 47% FG, 7.8 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 2.2 steals. I am telling you, Parks can be the challenger that Fajardo has been waiting for.
#2 Columbia - CJ Perez (#2 in Last Mock Draft)
CJ has been steady in his quest of getting the NCAA crown for Lyceum. The guy is living up to his billing as another version of The Beast, with his current production of 20.3 points, 49% FG, 8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 3.6 steals.
His ferociousness and strength stand out for a wing. We already saw that the combination of those two is a positive in the PBA. His defensive instinct though can separate him. Averaging almost four steals in a competitive league assures that CJ will be an above average defender in the PBA.
#3 Phoenix - Robert Bollick (#3 in Last Mock Draft)
Bollick is the prospect of the hour. After erupting for 50 points against Arellano, Robert has sent his name for a top 2 pick consideration. Personally, it was not the 50 that made my jaw drop, it was the 17 of 25 shooting in the field.
Elite efficiency and effectiveness have been the main selling point of Bollick. With his size, getting him as the point guard or secondary playmaker will never be a mistake. That will fit perfectly with Phoenix who is looking to have their point guard of the present and the future.
#4 Meralco - Abu Tratter (#4 in Last Mock Draft)
Meralco's need for a bigman and their depth in the wings and in the guards will lead them to draft the best bigman available. Tratter's physical tools are already ready for the big league. His skillset is still not there but the guy is already very good in making cuts.
He is also not afraid to make contacts. Those two traits can go a long way for him if he will never develop an outside shot.
#5 Northport - Jason Brickman (#6 in Last Mock Draft)
Brickman has been prepared for the PBA for the last few years. I will not be shocked if Phoenix end up getting him with the #3 pick if they want to partner Wright and Abueva with a distributive point guard.
Other than his passing, I hope no one forgets about his ability to hit three-point shot. The possibility of him turning Phoenix into the PBA version of GSW is a very big possibility.
#6 NLEX - Andre Paras (#7 in Last Mock Draft)
With his love-affair with the three-point shot, Andre Paras is the perfect bigman that coach Yeng will select. Paras attempted 8.8 long bombs per game in the D-League. His shooting is still not polished but he is already on the right track. Paras is also a hard worker and he is not looking for his own shot.
#7 Rain or Shine - Owen Graham (#5 in Last Mock Draft)
Graham was a double-double machine in the D-League. With Gabe Norwood, Mark Borboran, Jay Washington fading due to age, Graham will be the perfect fit. He has tantalizing per game averages of 14.9 points, 57% FG, 13.4 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.4 blocks.
#8 Rain or Shine - Trevis Jackson (#8 in Last Mock Draft)
Jackson's scoring prowess was evident in the 2018 Foundation Cup of PBA D-League. He was the 2nd highest scorer with his 16.7 points per game. He was not just a scorer because he also produced 4.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game.
That could be the kind of point guard that Rain or Shine may want, to bring another flavor to their PG rotation. Knowing that they have a do-it-all in Rey Nambatac and a big PG in Maverick Ahanmisi.
#9 Alaska - Aris Dionisio (#9 in Last Mock Draft)
Aris is improving his case with his play in the MPBL. He is still an unknown today but his combination of size and skills should push him to the 1st round conversation. Dionisio is averaging 14.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.2 blocks and 59% FG per game. He can hit threes already and he is very efficient. Alaska needs him and he looks like a perfect Alaska pick.
#10 Magnolia - Matt Salem (New)
I think, Magnolia will simply go for the best non-point guard available. Matt Salem underperformed in his UAAP career but the tools that created that hype is still prevalent. Salem is fast and strong for a forward who is using a lot of three-pointers. His 37% clip from beyond the arc is above-average. If he can do that in the big league, Salem can turn out to be a steal.
#11 Phoenix - Kris Porter (New)
Porter was just a bench player in his UAAP career and even in the recent conference of PBA D-League. But he is a legit 6'5 and has a strong frame already. The most tantalizing number in his D-League stint was his 47% shooting from beyond the arc. Phoenix needs a big who can shoot. Porter is that prospect.
#12 San Miguel - J-Jay Alejandro (#11 in Last Mock Draft)
San Miguel will simply go for the best talent available and that is Alejandro. The guy averaged 16.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 6.7 assists in his last UAAP season. He is not yet a threat from the outside but with his overall skillset, San Miguel can turn him into one of the steals of the draft.
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