2019 PBA Draft - Initial Grades! Did Ginebra made the best pick?

The 2019 draft will end up as one of the most up and down draft in terms of hype. It started with a very high promise, and then the top guys started to back-out, but the name of Kobe Paras appeared, but at the end only Isaac Go and Roosevelt Adams remained to lead this year's extravaganza of new comers.

So, it is time to do one of the most entertaining thing to do after draft, and that is to grade them!

I grade them by balancing two areas. 

First, the quality of the prospect. How good is he? Is he the best available? 

Second, is how hard was the choice? If it was pretty easy to make the choice, why would he get an A? 

I will grade them from A (highest) to F (lowest).

GILAS DRAFT

1. Isaac Go (Columbian Dyip)

This is an easy pick. Out of the choices, only Go has the potential to co-lead a team to a championship. He is far from a perfect prospect but in Philippine basketball, height and shooting are king.

Grade = C

2. Rey Suerte (Blackwater Elite)

I think Bulanadi is the better prospect because he is more skilled now. Although, I understand the allure of a Suerte. 

Grade = C

3. Matt Nieto (NLEX Road Warriors)

I understand that they do not need another guard that needs the ball like Bulanadi. Nieto's defense and willingness to play off-the-ball will be a great complement to the core of NLEX.

Grade = C

4. Allyn Bulanadi (Alaska Aces)

This was an easy choice for Alaska. Although, I am also not sure if they really need a guard, three years from now because Maverick Ahanmisi and Jeron Teng are young.

Grade = C

5. Mike Nieto (ROS Elasto Painters)

Rain or Shine did not have a choice.

Grade = Incomplete

REGULAR DRAFT

1. Roosevelt Adams (Columbian Dyip)

I thought he was really taller than 6'2. Although, he can play much bigger than his size because of his good physique, he may not be capable of playing the 4 position for more than a few minutes. That lowers his potential.

Grade = C

2. Maurice Shaw (Blackwater Elite)

I was one of the first fan of Maurice Shaw but I do not think Blackwater should have taken him at this point. I am not really sure if he has the amount of skills that could equal the possible impact of a Sean Manganti or even an Aris Dionisio. The coaching staff will be the key to maximize him.

Grade = D

3. Mike Ayonayon (NLEX Road Warriors)

I do not understand why NLEX need another Paniamogan type of player when they already have Philip. Ayonayon is a great scorer but NLEX do not need one. 

Grade = E

4. Barkley Eboña (Alaska Aces)

If they are looking for a bigman, I am not sure that Ebona is the best choice at this point. He is an inside operator with a physique of a perimeter big. Add the fact that they are in need of shooting and this pick is really questionable to me.

Grade = F

5. Adrian Wong (ROS Elasto Painters)

I understand the allure of Wong. He is a prototype 3-and-D as hyped by coach Tab Baldwin. Although, it was questionable to me why he was not included in the Gilas draft when he should have been a better choice than Mike Nieto. 3-and-D players are important, though.

Grade = C

6. Clint Doliguez (ROS Elasto Painters)

There is a good chance that Doliguez is in the same mold of a Paolo Taha and Kenneth Ighalo. Those are the kind of players that completes a team. But, why not Sean Manganti? Or even Aaron Black? Guys with higher potential.

Grade = E

7. Prince Rivero (ROS Elasto Painters)

Maybe, they are looking to create a new version of the Extra rice Inc.? He was unplayable in the ABL and even in the MPBL. He may have simply overpowered amateurs because of his immense strength. If his shooting improves, he could be something.

Grade = E

8. Sean Manganti (Northport Batang Pier)

This was an easy pick but the level of the prospect that they got for essentially the 13th try in this draft, is great. With his size and versatility, Northport now have a very modern forward duo of Sean Anthony and Sean Manganti.

Grade = B

9. Aris Dionisio (Magnolia Hotshots)

He may not have helped himself in the draft combine. Or maybe, the scouts of the teams above did not give any attention to a versatile big with great defensive acumen? I cannot really consider that Aris slide because I did not get the feeling that he was being hype for a high pick even with the Gilas draft. Magnolia may have just gotten the next Marc Pingris.

Grade = A

10. Arvin Tolentino (Ginebra Gin Kings)

Arvin is one of the most skilled college player in the last decade. Unfortunately, he was a head-case. If there is a coach that could help him focus on the right goals, I will bet on coach Tim Cone. This was an excellent decision because Ginebra has the luxury to go for a homerun and Arvin could be that prospect.

Grade = B

11. Kib Montalbo (TNT KaTropa)

It seems like TNT is very confident with their training staff for getting a point guard who is not a good shooter. And it seems like they are comfortable with their frontline depth, that I expect to be expose next conference.

Grade = D

12. Christian Balagasay (Columbian Dyip)

Height is might. Balagasay is a legit 6'6 and in the PBA, bigs do not need to be so skilled to be impactful. Just look at Greg Slaughter. I am not just sure if he is really that big to make an impact. But, I love the creativity of this pick. The sense is clear.

Grade = C