D-Day at Market! Market!

Over 50 rookie applicants are hoping to get picked in the PBA’s annual draft at Market! Market! in Taguig this afternoon. Since there will only be two draft rounds and the No. 2 overall slot has been forfeited (by defunct franchise Shell), a total of 19 players will be selected, meaning more than 30 hopefuls will go home unattached.

But it’s not necessarily a bad thing not to be chosen. If an applicant isn’t drafted, he automatically becomes a free agent and has the freedom to choose which team to try out with. Among the undrafted free agents who saw action in the PBA this past season were Mark Yee, Erick Rodriguez, Chad Alonzo, Jeff Chan, Philip Butel, Lawrence Bonus, Nathaniel Cruz and Al Vergara.

A survey among the PBA’s 10 teams revealed that 6-9 Japeth Aguilar of Ateneo and Western Kentucky will be the No. 1 overall pick without a doubt. Aguilar is such a prized catch that three teams are reportedly offering 3-for-1 deals in secure his rights. Barangay Ginebra was rumored to be willing to part ways with Jay-Jay Helterbrand, Billy Mamaril and J. C. Intal for Aguilar. Purefoods supposedly offered Enrico Villanueva, Rich Alvarez and P. J. Simon while Talk ‘N’ Text laid out Yancy de Ocampo, RenRen Ritualo and Ali Peek as bait.

But Burger King, which has the top pick, isn’t biting. Team governor Lito Alvarez, the incoming PBA chairman, said he expects Aguilar, Chris Ross, Rico Maierhofer, Jervy Cruz, Chris Timberlake, Ogie Menor, Michael Burtscher, Ronnie Matias, James Sena and Edwin Asoro to be the first 10 picks. Since the first round will name only nine players, Asoro will be the first pick in the second round in Alvarez’ list.

Purefoods will choose the second overall pick and coach Ryan Gregorio said he’s leaning towards Ross, the first rookie PBL MVP since Eric Menk. In his list, Gregorio named Aguilar, Ross, Cruz, Maierhofer, Sena, Menor, Matias, Timberlake, Orlando Daroya and Marcy Arellano.

Gregorio recently reacquired Marc Pingris in the Arwind Santos three-way deal with Burger King and San Miguel Beer. He may be looking for a pure point guard, like Ross, to bolster the Giants backcourt which right now, counts on Celino Cruz, Topex Robinson and convertible Roger Yap. But if Gregorio could deal for a quality quarterback in exchange for Villanueva, Alvarez and Simon (the same three reportedly offered for Aguilar), there’s no question he’ll go for Maierhofer.

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The Whoppers own the No. 3 overall pick, the second of three in the first round. Coach Yeng Guiao will choose whomever is available – Ross or Maierhofer.

Rain Or Shine comes next and coach Caloy Garcia will likely select Cruz, the burly UST center. Garcia’s top 10 rookie list, in order, has Aguilar on top then Maierhofer, Ross, Cruz, Sena, Menor, Timberlake, Matias, Daroya and Asoro.

If Aguilar, Ross, Maierhofer and Cruz are gone, Alaska will probably take either Sena or Menor. Sena, who turns 21 on Aug. 31, is a legitimate 6-3 1/4 power forward from Jose Rizal University. The knock on Sena is he wasn’t particularly impressive in rookie camp but that may not be a gauge of how he’ll do as a pro. Maybe, Sena was “leveraging” to be picked by a team of his choice.

As for Menor, the 6-2 former San Beda hotshot declined a Smart-Gilas offer to play under coach Rajko Toroman for the chance to live his dream in the PBA. He was an NCAA Finals MVP in both the juniors and seniors divisions, indicating a knack to shine under pressure. Menor, 22, played for Magnolia and Burger King in the PBL.

Sta. Lucia Realty will choose No. 6 overall and coach Boyet Fernandez may spring a surprise because in his top 10 list, he tagged former La Salle center Mark Benitez as the fifth pick. Benitez, 25, was measured by the PBA to be 6-4 1/4, the seventh tallest in the draft behind Aguilar, 6-5 Maierhofer, 6-5 Burtscher, 6-5 Jerby del Rosario, 6-4 3/4 Bryan Faundo and 6-4 1/2 P. J. Walsham. A role player, Benitez is eager to bounce back from a controversial ending to his collegiate career.

Fernandez’ top 10 lists shows Aguilar, Ross, Maierhofer, Cruz, Benitez, Sena, Burtscher, Kevin White, Timberlake and Benedict Fernandez.

Barangay Ginebra has the No. 7 overall slot. Coach Joseph Uichico named his top 10 – Aguilar, Maierhofer, Ross, Cruz, Sena, Daroya, Timberlake, Menor, Matias and Burtscher. When Ginebra’s turn to draft comes, Uichico may decide between Daroya and Timberlake.

Daroya, 25, is 6-2 1/ 4 and played the two, three and four spots for Cobra in the PBL. His versatility makes the Calasiao, Pangasinan, native an attraction. Timberlake is one of only 11 applicants less than six-feet tall. But size isn’t a handicap for the cat-quick former University of North Florida point guard who was the PBL Finals MVP this year.

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Burger King may use the No. 8 overall slot as trade bait or could exercise its right to pick Matias, Burtscher or Asoro. Matias, who stands 6-3, was on the top 10 list of nine of the 10 PBA coaches. The Swiss-born Burtscher has played three years in the PBL and may be the sleeper in the draft. Asoro, a 6-1 1/2 guard-forward, played for National University and has a reputation as a solid defender.

Capping the first round is San Miguel Beer with the ninth overall pick. Coach Siot Tanquingcen sent in his top 10 list – Aguilar, Maierhofer, Ross, Cruz, Sena, Menor, Daroya, Burtscher, Matias and White.

Barako Bull has no first round pick but owns two in the second. Coach Leo Isaac listed his top 11 rookies – Aguilar, Maierhofer, Ross, Cruz, Sena, Menor, Matias, Faundo, Asoro, Fernandez and Timberlake. Barako has the 11th and 12th overall picks.

Another team without a first round choice is Talk ‘N’ Text. Coach Chot Reyes will choose next to last in the second round. Reyes’ top 10 list has Aguilar, Maierhofer, Ross, Cruz, Menor, Burtscher, Matias, Sena, Ramsey Williams and Arellano.

Coca-Cola won’t pick in either round this year but coach Kenneth Duremdes came up with his first round list – Aguilar, Maierhofer, Ross, Sena, Matias, Timberlake, Williams, Arellano and Cruz.

Williams, 29, is a shade below six-feet and played point guard at the University of Hawaii for a year. He has seen action in the PBL and Liga Pilipinas. Williams made it on the first round lists of Reyes and Duremdes.

In our survey of the 10 PBA teams’ first round picks, only five players were named on every list – Aguilar, Maierhofer (second in seven lists), Ross (second in three, third in seven), Cruz (fourth in eight, third in one) and Sena (fifth in six, fourth in one). Matias was in nine lists, Menor and Timberlake in eight, Daroya in four, Arellano in four and Asoro in three.