IN RECENT years, drafting three or more players from the same school has become a trend in the NBA. The 2007 NBA Draft included four Florida Gators, three of which were picked in the first round (Horford, Brewer, and Noah) and one in the second round (Taurean Green). Similarly, the 2010 NBA Draft featured five Kentucky Wildcats, all drafted in the first round, starting off with number one pick John Wall, then top five pick DeMarcus Cousins, and a slew of first-rounders in Patrick Patterson, Eric Bledsoe, and Daniel Orton.
This year’s PBA Draft has followed suit, with four Eagles included in the possible 21 spots. Former frontcourt mates Severino ‘Nonoy’ Baclao and Rabeh Al-Hussaini will now man the bases for Air 21 Express—who were both picked number one and two respectively. In the second round, the Manny Pangilinan-owned Meralco Bolts drafted former Ateneo standout Claiford Arao with the 14th pick, while Air21 shipped the 18th pick to the Powerade Tigers, which selected Jai Reyes.
As most people expected the taller, more offensively-gifted Al-Hussaini to go number one, Air 21 created draft day drama when they tabbed the defensive-minded Baclao with the first pick. Baclao was puzzled, but it was Al-Hussaini that drew a lot of buzz, expressing his dismay verbally. “It’s an insult,” he told reporters.
Immediate speculations were that the Express disgruntled Al-Hussaini so that he would request a trade, but team president Johann Ramos quashed all misconceptions, saying “Basically, they’re going to the same team, if you’re really good, you have to prove yourself.”
Whether the Express swapped draft positions to increase Baclao’s confidence or to put a chip in Al-Hussaini’s shoulder, Air21 will have a viable frontcourt for years to come, shoring up a thin frontcourt. Rich Alvarez has regressed, Doug Kramer can’t battle with the Asi Taulava’s and the Kelly Williams’ of the league, while Mamaril, Matias, and Sharma have been passable, but not spectacular.
Ford Arao, on the other hand, will be joining Gabby Espinas, Marlou Aquino, Yousif Aljamal and Beau Belga in a frontcourt mix that is yet to be tested. Jai Reyes looks to be an improvement over the aging Paolo Mendoza and lanky Chico Lanete.
Writer’s Note: The 2010 PBA Draft featured the most Blue Eagles in the last decade. Baclao, Al-Hussainin, Arao, and Reyes will be joining the likes of former champions Enrico Villanueva, Wesley Gonzales, Rich Alvarez, Magnum Membrere and other fixtures such as Kramer, Macky Escalona, and JC Intal.
More: What to expect from the Blue Eagle graduates and A look at former Blue Eagles drafted in the last decade.
