PBA top rookie picks: The good, the bad and the outstanding (last part)

Willie Miller (2001) – Red Bull won a PBA championship in just its sophomore season, the fastest team ever to win a title for an expansion franchise. One of the main reasons for the Thunder’s success that time was Willie Miller, easily the most talented player among the cast of hopefuls who entered the 2001 Draft. A left-handed, athletic player who could do almost everything with the basketball, the 5-foot-11 guard from Letran was definitely a gem of a talent. But there were unconfirmed reports regarding Miller’s reputation in college. Some considered him a head case, a happy-go-lucky guy who was not always serious in winning games. Yeng Guiao, a fiery mentor known for bringing the best out his players, was more than willing to take the gamble. Miller was inserted into the starting lineup and quickly became one of the team’s stars. He played alongside Jimwell Torion to form a deadly backcourt combo for Red Bull. In just his rookie season, Miller and the young Thunder squad were put to a test. They were up against the mighty San Miguel Beermen, who had won five titles from 1999 to 2001. But the Thunder stunned the favored Beermen in the Commissioner’s Cup Finals, with Miller playing a key role in the 4-2 triumph. At the end of the season, however, Miller lost the Rookie of the Year award to Mark Caguioa. The following season, Miller practically took over and won the league’s Most Valuable Player award. He was passed up by national team coach Jong Uichico for the RP quintet’s campaign in the Busan Asian Games, the last all-pro squad to play in the quadrennial meet. But his non-inclusion paved the way for Miller to dominate in the PBA in the absence of some of the league's biggest stars. He led Red Bull in defending its Commissioners Cup crown, this time against Talk N Text. In 2004, Miller was traded to Talk N Text where he paired off with Jimmy Alapag. Although the Phone Pals barged into the finals twice with Miller on board, they failed to win a championship, and the inevitable happened for the pride of Olongapo City. He was traded to Alaska during the 2005-06 season. "Miller Time" was best typified by the player considered by coach Tim Cone as one of the best closers in the league, and Miller won his second MVP award. The Aces would wait until the 2007 Fiesta Conference before they could win a title with Miller. Two more times, the Aces were able to get into the finals. In the 2008-09 season, with the game hanging in the balance, Miller missed two crucial free throws in the dying seconds of a game against Talk N Text, which won the Philippine Cup crown. The following season, Miller carried the Aces back into the championship round, but they were swept by the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants. Miller and the Aces parted ways during the elimination round of the Fiesta Conference of the PBA’s 35th season. The separation proved to be beneficial for Alaska, which bagged the season-ending crown. Yancy de Ocampo (2002) – Basketball fans were anticipating Romel Adducul to become the top overall rookie pick of 2002 and play for FedEx Express, the newest member then in the PBA. FedEx bought the franchise of Bong Tan's Tanduay Rhum, intent on making Adducul, the best player outside of the PBA at the time, its No.1 pick. But Adducul failed to get his release papers from LBC, a rival company of FedEx, and the Express ended up picking 6-foot-9 slotman Yancy de Ocampo. De Ocampo was more of a project player when he entered the PBA. He joined a squad composed of veteran players Jerry Codiñera, Paul Alvarez and Dindo Pumaren. For the first few years of his career, De Ocampo was like a ping-pong ball as he was shifted back and forth from Air21 to Talk N Text and back to Air21. Thus, the lefty center from St. Francis of Assisi College never gained the star status he enjoyed when he was in the PBL as a member of the multi-titled Welcoat Paints and as the cornerstone of the Doves in the National Capital Region Athletic Association. In fact, his brother Ranidel had a more stellar career, as the younger De Ocampo became one of the league’s premier forwards while playing for the Express and the Tropang Texters. After Yancy’s rights were acquired by the Express as part of the Japeth Aguilar trade, he was shipped to the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings in the 2009-2010 season. Mike Cortez (2003) – Mike Cortez came in at the perfect time and joined the perfect team. Alaska Milk was on a rebuilding stage in their post grandslam era when the 5-foot-10 guard from La Salle came into the scene. Alaska traded Johnny Abarrientos and Poch Juinio two years earlier for Ali Peek and Jon Ordonio. They had also lost Bong Hawkins to Tanduay Rhum that same year. The Aces found themselves building a team around Kenneth Duremdes, then the highest-paid PBA cager. Cortez was the most talented point guard to come out from the collegiate ranks. He was a member of the four-peat La Salle Archers squad in 2001, and his entry was highly-anticipated by Cone and his Aces. Cortez did make an impact, helping Alaska win the 2003 Invitationals crown. But he lost the Rookie of the Year derby to Jimmy Alapag, whose Talk N Text squad won the All-Filipino crown that season. When Miller joined the Aces, the team’s backcourt duo was described as probably the most potent combo in the history of the pro league. Just when Cortez’s game was about to hit its peak, disaster struck the young cager’s career. An MCL injury (knee injury) sidelined him for most of the 2006-2007 season, when the Aces won the Fiesta Conference title over the Tropang Texters. The following season, Cortez was traded to the Magnolia Beverage Masters (San Miguel Beermen) along with Ken Bono for guard LA Tenorio and Larry Fonacier. While on his way to recovery, Cortez and the Beermen worked their way back on top. He played a stellar role in his team’s 4-3 victory over sister Ginebra in the 2008-2009 Fiesta Conference Finals. Cortez, who wound up second in the Finals MVP race behind teammate Jonas Villanueva, was rewarded with the Comeback Player of the Year award by the PBA Press Corps. Rich Alvarez (2004-05) -- The PBA had a transition period, shortening its season with a two-conference format. The focus of attention was on James Yap, touted to become the next big superstar in the PBA, but Rich Alvarez was chosen as the season’s top overall pick by Shell and ended up winning the Rookie of the Year award over Yap. Alvarez was not given a warm welcome in his very first game in the PBA. He was benched for the entire game by then Turbochargers mentor John Moran. When Leo Austria replaced Moran in the team’s second game, Alvarez showed everyone his true potential. Making up for occasionally atrocious outside shooting, Alvarez made hustle and defense the trademarks of his game. When Shell folded up, Alvarez and Tony dela Cruz were acquired by the Alaska Aces. But Alvarez struggled with the Aces’ complicated Triangle Offense. Since then, Alvarez became a journeyman, as he was traded to various teams: Red Bull, Purefoods, Ginebra and Air21. Alvarez also missed a lot of games in the 2007-2008 season owing to a knee injury, and his game has not been quite the same again. Jay Washington (2005-06) – A lot of people weren’t surprised when Air21 traded its top overall rookie pick – Jay Washington -- to another team. A 6-foot-7 forward who loves to play facing the basket rather than posting up, Washington took five years to reach stardom. “J-Wash nearly became a bust as he couldn’t seem to fit the system of coaches Chot Reyes and Derick Pumaren with Talk N Text. He blossomed under Siot Tanquingcen when he was traded to San Miguel Beer to become Danny Seigle’s heir apparent," said Jay P. Mercado, basketball historian from MYPBA, a website rich in basketball information. “He also became more versatile and is now not averse to physicality, unlike in his first two years." Washington did live up to his potential in the season just passed. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the Conference in the Fiesta Cup, and was a strong contender for the season MVP award, but lost out to James Yap. With Seigle already at the twilight of his career, Washington is expected to become one of the cornerstones of San Miguel. Kelly Williams (2006-2007) – Traditionally, Sta. Lucia has been a non-believer when it comes to Fil-foreign players. But with a talented player like Kelly Williams leading the cast of aspirants in the 2006-2007 season, even team manager Buddy Encarnado didn’t mind bending their “self-imposed rules." So Williams quickly became the savior of the Realtors’ aging franchise, turning a survivor squad into a title contender. He won the Rookie of the Year award while giving the Realtors a glimpse of a good future. In that same season, the Realtors wanted to have a new direction, so the management appointed its long-time player Boyet Fernandez as the new head coach, and replacing Alfrancis Chua. The Realtors began to have a spectacular ride, with Williams more than willing to carry the squad on his shoulders. The flight landed Sta. Lucia to the championship round where it faced Purefoods. For seven games, the teams went toe-to-toe. Williams, who was mainly responsible for the Realtors’ transformation, and the rest of the team’s key players such as Dennis Espino, Marlou Aquino and eventual 2008 Rookie of the Year winner Ryan Reyes would lead Sta. Lucia to a seventh-game triumph over the Tender Juicy Giants. And what a better way for Williams to end the season than winning the MVP award. With the Realtors financially challenged during the 2009-2010 season, the team’s key players, including Williams, were shipped off one by one to other squads. The 6-foot-5 Williams is now playing for the Tropang Texters, and became one of the three players loaned to the RP-Smart Gilas national developmental team for the Asian Games’ basketball event. Joe DeVance (2007-2008) -- Calvin Joe DeVance was among the PBL stars who entered the PBA in the 2007-08 season. In need of a big man to beef up its frontline, Welcoat (now Rain or Shine) picked him the No.1 draft. While DeVance looked promising, Welcoat co-team owner Raymond Yu believed the team’s future could differ in philosophy with Joe's brand of play. The following year, Yu, his partner Terry Que and coach Caloy Garcia made Gabe Norwood their top overall pick, and decided to trade DeVance for spitfire guard Sol Mercado. “We’re a small team, so instead of covering up our weakness in the middle, we opted to play with our strength, which is to run and gun," said Yu. The partnership of Norwood and Mercado carried the Elasto Painters to greater heights. For his part, DeVance proved to be a perfect fit for the Alaska Aces’ Triangle Offense. A big man with a fine shooting touch, DeVance found a niche in Tim Cone’s system. It took just a season for the 6-foot-7 lefty to adjust, but he did become an integral part of the Aces’ successful campaign in the season just passed. The Aces made it to the finals in all two conferences of the 2009-2010 season, and won the Fiesta Cup crown. Gabe Norwood (2008-2009) – Gabe Norwood chose to serve the national team first before bringing his wares to the PBA. But he was already a target by many teams in the pro league. In fact, one PBA team met with Rain or Shine management to try to tap the services of the 6-foot-4 guard from George Mason University prior to the start of the 2008 Rookie Draft. But the Elasto Painters management wasn’t interested in letting go of its so-called franchise redeemer. Norwood and his buddy Sol Mercado suddenly became teammates on Draft Day, and the Elasto Painters became dead serious in throwing away their doormat image. Norwood and Mercado quickly changed the fortunes of Rain or Shine, which has achieved a lot of firsts in the 2008-2009 season. Norwood bagged the Rookie of the Year award while Mercado joined him in the All-Rookie Team on the season’s awards night. They had their most number of victories that season with an 18-14 win-loss record, giving them their first-ever semis stint in the Fiesta Conference. In the season just past, the Elasto Painters nearly made it to the semis again, but they were defeated by the B-Meg Derby Ace Llamados in five games. Norwood added another facet to his game when he was named the Defensive Player of the Year by the PBA Press Corps. Japeth Aguilar (2009-2010) – The most controversial rookie among the top overall picks was no other than Japeth Aguilar. He applied for the PBA Rookie Draft in the 2009-2010 season, but suddenly turned his back on the pro league and opted to join the RP-Smart Gilas national developmental squad. A tug-of-war took place and Air21, which selected Aguilar as its top overall pick, even sought the help of other team representatives to impose a ban on the 6-foot-9 player. A compromise was reached when Samahang Baketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan, who bankrolls the Talk N Text basketball team and the Smart-Gilas squad, acted as the middle man. In the end, Talk N Text paid the heavy prize of unloading four players – two first-round draft picks, Yancy de Ocampo and Ren-Ren Ritualo. As for Aguilar, the player remained nothing more but sheer potential. He played for one game for Burger King in the PBA before he fulfilled his wish of joining Smart Gilas. His rights in the PBA now belongs to Talk N Text. “When we were trying to get Japeth, I said in an interview that he’s a potential player. Potential means a player that needs to be developed," said Yeng Guiao, the fiery Air21 coach, who was also the mentor of the Powerade-Pilipinas squad that placed eighth in the 2009 FIBA Asia Men’s Basketball Championship. Aguilar caught the fancy of Guiao after his stint with the Western Kentucky University. But the animosity between player and coach started in Tianjin as the young cager couldn’t stand the heat of Guiao’s coaching ways. Mercado, of MYPBA, offers another view of Aguilar once he enters the PBA. “Japeth is an enigma. Potentially, he could become the best pick ever, but he could also end up as the biggest bust with all the hype on him," said Mercado. “Let’s hope Toroman further develops his game so that he will learn to play big." - KY, GMANews.TV