LAST Sunday’s PBA Draft 2024 is complete and except for a few surprises, the teams made their selections according to their needs to boost their respective line-ups.

A total of 47 players out of 67 applicants were taken in during the annual draft held at Glorietta Makati.

Needless to say, all 12 teams are happy with their choices, especially Converge FiberX.

Based on what we see, here’s how the teams fare.

Converge FiberX

Justine Baltazar (1), Paolo Javillonar (19), Ben Phillips (21), Jason Credo (24), Ronan Santos (25)

With the No. 1 overall pick Justine Baltazar, Converge is expected to figure prominently in the title race.

The 6-9 pride of Mabalacat, Pampanga is a proven winner while playing for La Salle, where he earned three UAAP Mythical Team selections in 2018, 2019 and 2021, and Pampanga Giant Lanterns, where he bagged the MPBL Most Valuable Player award, Finals MVP and All-Star Game MVP plums in 2023.

In the MPBL, Baltazar is regarded as “Mr. Triple-Double Man” for the defending chmpions Giant Lanterns despite the presence of other big-name stars in the 29-team regional league.

Converge coach Aldin Ayo said the 1-2 combination of Baltazar and last year’s Rookie of the Year winner Justin Arana should be interesting to see, especially when playing against the more experienced duos in the pro league.

The entry of Javillonar, a three-time NCAA champion with Letran, and Phillips, a proven winner from La Salle, should also add depth to the FiberXers, who finished dead-last in the recent PBA Philippine Cup with a 2-9 win-loss record.

Grade: A

Blackwater Elite

Sedrick Barefield (2), DJ Mitchell (26), Keith Pido (38)

As far as Blackwater coach Jeffrey Cariaso is concerned, the addition of Barefield to a team which posted a disappointing 4-7 record in the PBA Philippine Cup is heaven-sent.

Cariaso considers the 6-2 Filipino- American playmaker from Corona, California, who also suited up for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Summer League and Bay AreaDragins and Taipei Fubon Braves, a “game-changer”

Also a welcome addition for Cariaso is Mitchell, who was taken in the third round with the No. 26 pick.

A 6-0 Fil-Am guard, Mitchell played for NCAA Division I school Hartford, where he averaged 7.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in his final year.

The 24-year-old shooter is a 40 percent shooter from behind the arc as a mainstay of the Manila Batang Sampaloc SGA in the MPBL.

Grade: B+

Barangay Ginebra

RJ Abarrientos (3), Didat Hanapi (17), Paolo Hernandez (22), Paul Garcia (34)

With Barangay Ginebra moving up to No. 3 in the draft following a blockbuster trade with Terrafirma, veteran coach Tim Cone took the opportunity to bring in Abarrientos, a nephew of former PBA MVP Johnny Abarrientos.

The 5-11 guard, who saw action for the Ulsan Hyundai in the Korean Basketball League and Shinshu Brave Warriors in the Japanese B.League.

Abarrientos is widely seen as Ginebra’s soon-to-be replacement to LA Tenorio, who turned 40 last July 9.

If they make the final cut, Hanapi, Hernandez and Garcia should inject young blood to an aging Ginebra roster.

Grade: A

Phoenix Super LPG

Kai Ballungay (4), CJ Payawal (28), Chino Mosqueda (40), Patrick Feliciano (52)

At 6-7, Kai Ballungay is expected to boost Phoenix’s frontline that already counts on 6-4 Fil-Am Jason Perkins and 6-4 Fil-Kiwi Kenneth Tuffin.

The 22-year-old Ballungay brings with him a winning experience with UAAP champion Ateneo.

Another good pick is the Illinois-born Payawal, who played for Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 teams, and the VAlenzuela Classic in the MPBL.

Grade: B

NorthPort

Dave Ildefonso (5), Evan Nelle (14), Agem Miranda (29), John Uduba (41), Germy Mahinay (53), Robbi Darang (65)

Batang Pier coach Bonie Tan hopes the entry of both Ildefonso, a 6-4 forward from Ateneo, and Nelle, a 5-11 guard from La Salle, would make the team an instantn contender in the coming conference.

Ildefonso, son of PBA legend Danny Ildefonso, and Nelle can provide instant offense to a team whose running game that was already among the best in the league last season.

If he is as good as advertised, Nelle can also take the place of erstwhile NorthPort star Robert Bolick.

Grade: A

NLEX

Jonnel Policarpio (6), Brandon Ramirez (18), Xyrus Torres (30), Denzel Wong (42),

PBA Draft Combine MVP Jonnel Policarpio went to NLEX at No. 6. and newly-appointed Road Warriors coach Jong Uichico will have a bigger an dmore athletic team at his disposal.

Policarpio is seen as a steal at No. 6, especially with the way he performed at the Draft Combine.

Although he will join NLEX aftre hi scontract with Pampanga expires, Ramirez is also a good addition with his rebounding prowess.

At No. 30, Torres is a good choice if Uichico wants to add a player who can space the floor.

Grade: B+ 

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AUTHOR PROFILE

Ed Andaya