FIRST ROUND
1 | ALLAN CAIDIC | GREAT TASTE COFFEE MAKERS
13 SEASONS | 598 GAMES | 19.6PPG | 2.8RPG | 2.6APG
TEAMS PLAYED | PRESTO, SAN MIGUEL, GINEBRA
ACHIEVEMENTS | 10,000 POINTS, 500 STEALS
AWARDS | 1x MVP, 1x BEST PLAYER OF THE CONFERENCE, 6x
MYTHICAL FIRST TEAM, 2x MYTHICAL SECOND TEAM, 1987 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR, 1x
ALL-STAR MVP, 4x PBA CHAMPION
With apologies to Sonny Cabatu and Rey Cuenco, Allan Caidic
is the first great top overall pick. One of two coffee-related brands in the
league at that time, The Triggerman held his own against Atoy Co, Philip Cezar,
Bernie Fabiosa, Arnie Tuadles, Abe King and Ricardo Brown. On a related note, Great
Taste’s acquisition of Caidic is also seen as the first official lopsided trade
because aside from swapping draft positions (Shell would then select the next
guy on this list), the Coffee Makers also acquired Cezar and Fabiosa in lieu of
Manny Victorino and Jimmy Manansala. Furthermore, Shell would then waive their
drafting rights to make this trade two 80s stars for three Hall of Famers.
Anyway, Great Taste would make two finals appearances that season – winning the
1987 All-Filipino Cup in the process with Shell finishing with an 18-36 record.
The Triggerman would become a one-time MVP, a perennial Mythical Team member,
and the reigning and defending single-game scoring leader with 79 points.
2 | AL SOLIS | HILLS BROS COFFEE KINGS
15 SEASONS | 680 GAMES | 10.6PPG
TEAMS PLAYED | SHELL, PUREFOODS, SUNKIST, MOBILINE, RED BULL
ACHIEVEMENTS | 5,000 POINTS
AWARDS | 2x MYTHICAL SECOND TEAM, 5X PBA CHAMPION
Al Solis would have been the best player in the first three
PBA drafts. Of course, another sweet-shooting, long-distance specialist
upstaged Solis. Anyway, I got why Shell passed on their first-round selection.
For some insane reason, Alaska thought it was a good idea to trade away the
rights to Solis and 1986 top pick Rey Cuenco to Shell for the aging Bogs
Adornado. Sure, Adornado is a grand slam winner and a three-time MVP but the
1987 season would be his last year in the PBA. Anyway, Solis peaked as part of
the Swift Mighty Meaties / Sunkist Orange Juicers – with two Mythical Second
Teams, four championships, and a near-grand slam.
3 | HARMON CODINERA | GINEBRA SAN MIGUEL
6 SEASONS | 246 GAMES | 4.6PPG
TEAMS PLAYED | GINEBRA, PRESTO, PEPSI, ALASKA, PUREFOODS
Jerry Codinera’s elder bro is a second-stringer at best. He
also had a journeyman’s career in the league. With that said, Harmon also
capitalizes on defense just like his brother and when his team needs an import
stopper, he is a helpful extra body.
4 | CAYETANO SALAZAR | TANDUAY RHUM MAKERS
4 SEASONS | 53 GAMES | 3.9PPG
TEAMS PLAYED | TANDUAY, GINEBRA, SARSI
I have seen him toil around the Ginebra bench alongside Ed
Ducut and Mukesh Advani during their bad boy days but I rarely saw him in
action. I also remember Tano Salazar returning to the PBL after his PBA run.
SECOND ROUND
5 | ANTHONY MENDOZA | GINEBRA SAN MIGUEL
1 SEASON | 18 GAMES | 1.7PPG
TEAMS PLAYED | GINEBRA
Sadly, I don’t remember him playing. Another unfortunate
distinction for Mendoza is that he’s the first player to get drafted in the PBA
to play fewer than 20 games. I know through the years, other players had it
worse but it’s a feat worth crediting.
0 Comments: