Here are some of those former college cagers, coming in alphabetical order
Dylan Ababou (UST, Smart Gilas)
The former Growling Tiger became the head of their ambush during Season 72, who placed fourth and were defeated by the Rabeh Al-Hussaini-led Ateneo in the Final Four. Known before for his midrange game, Ababou has since gained a lot of skills, which include (thank God) inside scoring and defense, thanks to the Smart Gilas training program. Can he make use of these skills to make it? Perhaps he would, in the early second round.
Ken Acibar (UE)
Many Red Warrior fans wished that Acibar could have stayed and become the pillar of the Red Warriors this Season 74. Apparently, due to the change in the coaching staff, he decided to leave the team (and its chances of becoming a competitive bunch in the UAAP) together with Paul Lee and Coach Lawrence Chongson. A forward capable of becoming a threat both outside and inside, he might earn a significant spot and be drafted early.
Mac Baracael (FEU, Smart Gilas)
The guy who was shot after a game-fixing fiasco fully recovered after his years in the UAAP, even becoming a dominant shooting forward who knows his game very well and how he would fit in Coach Toroman's system. Let's see how he will carry it over in a professional league that demands him to become more of a small forward than a power forward.
Andy Barroca (FEU, Smart Gilas)
The last discussions that we have about Andy Barroca and his playing years in the UAAP involved allegations of game-fixing during Season 72. However, it seems that it did not dishearten him, when he played full-time for Smart Gilas and made a name for himself. He has the skill and the basketball IQ to become a legit point guard in the PBA, but plugging in prejudices, can this be the opportunity for him to prove that there is no such thing as "game-fixing" in his vocabulary?
JV Casio (DLSU, Smart Gilas)
Why oh why, does Casio have to enter the PBA draft, when he is the best player of Smart Gilas? The last time he wore the green and white, he was seen finding his spots and shooting timely jumpers. And things changed a lot since then, for he developed as a reliable guard both from inside and the outside, on both ends of the floor. Too bad he was injured during the last stretch of the Jones Cup. Had he been there, Team Pilipinas could have a shot of becoming number one. The challenge now is for him to elevate and adjust his game in the professional level.
Reil Cervantes (FEU)
Cervantes also decided to forego his final option to play for the FEU Tamaraws (which seems to be a bad decision from the perspective of the present Tams, who terribly lack big men to fill in his post) and head straight to the professional league. Now what can a big man that knows how to post up as well as hit outside jumpers do? A lot, actually.
Brian Ilad (DLSU)
Last time we've heard from him was his quarrel with UE Red Warrior Mark Fampulme, and that's the only time his name became significant. Even along former Maroon Magi Sison, he didn't rack up good numbers in the D-League. Expect this guy to be left out until the late 2nd round.
Paul Lee (UE)
Season 73's chief Red Warrior was the one whom teams have been waiting for, ever since news broke out that he will be leaving the University of the East together with Coach Chongson. Whether he will live up to the expectations or not depends on how he will adjust his game. Will his shooting antics work well in the PBA? Only way to know how is to let him play.
Allein Maliksi (UST)
Maliksi used to be the Growling Tigers' spunk off the bench, until he became the D-League MVP. And from resident dunker to all-around player, expect him to be drafted mid-1st round, especially with a team that needs both inside and outside offense.
Kit Rosopa (UE)
Like Ilad, is this a wise decision for the UE second-stringer? Even though he provides power in the post in his Red Warrior days, he might have a lot of adjustments, and part of them is accepting the fact that he can just be a third-stringer or a twelfth man. Perhaps it's not too late to back out and return to the D-League.
Eric Salamat (Ateneo)
Ateneo's court general really has what it takes to become a premier one or two in the PBA. He can pass, shoot threes, play D, and run from coast to coast for transitions. However, with the overload of guards in the professional league that are taller and quicker, he might have to put aside his ego and learn that even though he has a fighting chance of being drafted in the early first round, he will end up on the bench
Magi Sison (UP, Smart Gilas)
Despite improved numbers, Magi Sison has already been branded as a fluke of a big man, judging from his Fighting Maroon days and his short stint with Smart Gilas. But given the proper training and conditioning to become a legit forward, he can be dominant. Or not.
In the end, let's just cross our fingers and hope that they become key components in the teams that will get them.
Postscript:
Of course there are some names that we would expect to come out, but aren't there:
-FEU alum Paul Sanga didn't apply for the draft at all. Maybe he thought that there is more to it than shooting jumpers in the professional level.
-Not surprising at all: Joshua Saret, who has not improved greatly after leaving the Fighting Maroons basketball program.
-It has been more than two years since we've heard about former top Bulldog Edwin Asoro, and maybe the professional league is not for him either. And perhaps this is what would happen to other former 'Dogs like Jewel Ponferada and Kokoy Hermosisima, who obviously need more exposure in the D-League. Danny Ildefonso and Lordy Tugade are getting old already,and it's nigh time that they get their replacements.
And conversely, other names that should NOT be there (you decide):
Marcio Lassiter and Chris Lutz will apply for the PBA draft and opt out of the Smart Gilas-Pilipinas team, which brings us to a separate discussion...
Credits to the following for the photos: GMANews, Bleachersbrew, Philstar.com, Greenarchers.ph, Pinoy Exchange, GBrew, The Varsitarian, Abante, Fabilioh, and Flickr
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