(c) PBA Media Bureau
I waited for almost a week to do this article because I want to make sure where the draftees will be playing for.
Now that it seems like the league has calm down, it is time to give you the five best sleeper candidates.
#5 Jeepy Faundo
Magnolia drafted Jeepy with the 3rd pick in the 2nd round. Magnolia could have been a good place for him to develop behind Marc Pingris and Rafi Reavis.
Magnolia did not sign him and he ended up with Columbian Dyip. With the Dyip, he will get more opportunity to play. Experience can fast-track the development of a prospect.
Faundo has the athleticism and size to be a legit back-up bigman in the league. Legit back-up bigs are as important as starting caliber guards because of the supply-and-demand factor.
#4 John Ragasa
Let me again invite you to join the Ragasa bandwaggon. I am not assuring you that he will be a star in the league but with what I saw, I think he can be a starting caliber guard if given the opportunity. He has the body, skills and tenacity to develop into one. He can also shoot and he is very strong. He just needs an opportunity to show his worth.
#3 Abu Tratter
Tratter slide from his projected #4 or #5 spot. It became clear though that the reason behind was the trades that the franchises on those spots were brewing.
Tratter has the potential to be one of the three best players to come out of this draft. I doubt if he develops into a 15+ points scorer because he was not built in the amateurs to score a lot of points.
I think he can become a very good scrappy and tenacious bigman who does the little things very well and consistently. In short, he can be on the mold of a Marc Pingris.
#2 Bong Quinto
Quinto has the potential to make a lot of teams that pass on him, regretful. It was a little bit shocking that a forward who is capable of filling-up the stat sheet was pushed to the 2nd round because of the emergence of Scottie Thompson.
There is a big chance that Meralco got a bigger version of Scottie. Quinto doesn't have the nose for rebounds of Scottie but he could be a better playmaker. Defensively, he has shown willingness to work hard.
Overall, Quinto's brand of ball is still unique in the PBA, so Meralco got themselves a premium by grabbing him in the 2nd round.
#1 Matt Salem
I am pretty sure, something magical happened for Matt Salem to drop in the very last pick of the 3rd round. It just hard to fathom that the eleven other franchises did not found a reason to grab him in the 2nd round or in the 3rd round!
Salem's combination of size, athleticism and shooting is hard to find in the PBA. He was just a perfect fit to Ginebra because of his ability to play three positions and his focus on hitting outside shots.
Coach Tim Cone can also mold him into a reliable defender.
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