RAIN or Shine and Converge have been labeled by a couple of PBA team governors as dark horses for the coming 50th Season with their performances during the preseason and the way they built the team.
In an era where trades have been the main choice to beef up its roster, it is refreshing to note that the FiberXers and the Elasto Painters became where they are right now by constructing through the draft.
READ: PBA governors see Converge, RoS as dark horses for Season 50
Trades were still made by the two independent ballclubs, but mostly to acquire future draft picks, most of which eventually paid off.
The start of the rise of both clubs can be traced to the Season 46 draft on March 14, 2021 where a made-for-TV event was held at the TV5 Media Center, with the draftees appearing via conference call due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
RAIN OR SHINE
The Elasto Painters reached the PBA semifinals in the last four conferences thanks to the fruits of their labor during the draft four years ago.
Rain or Shine selected Santi Santillan at No. 5 in the Season 46 draft, and a few picks later, got Anton Asistio and Andrei Caracut at No. 22 and No. 23 respectively, acquiring the right to pick those players in previous transactions. The three are part of Rain or Shine’s rotation with Santillan
READ: Rain or Shine coaches' keen eye for draft talent paying off
In the Season 47 draft, Rain or Shine picked Gian Mamuyac in the first round at No. 5, and Shaun Ildefonso at No. 10, a draft pick that the Elasto Painters got as part of a 2019 trade that sent Raymond Almazan to Meralco.
The same draft also saw Rain or Shine taking a diamond in the rough by selecting unheralded Jhonard Clarito in the second round at No. 17. He would become an integral part of today’s batch of Elasto Painters after winning the Most Improved Player award for the 48th Season.
Luis Villegas and Keith Datu were selected at No. 3 and No. 4 respectively in the Season 48 Draft with the former pick part of a package deal that sent Javee Mocon to Phoenix in 2022.
But the highlight of that draft for the Elasto Painters came when it was their turn to pick at No. 24, or the last pick of the second round, when they took Adrian Nocum, which has become Rain or Shine’s primary offensive option.
The Season 50 draft saw Rain or Shine taking Caelan Tiongson and Felix Lemetti at No. 7 and No. 8, the later right also acquired in a trade that sent Rey Nambatac to Blackwater in 2024.
The result is Nocum, Clarito, Santillan, Mamuyac, Tiongson, Caracut, Lemetti, Asistio, and Datu being in the top nine in scoring for the Elasto Painters in a balanced scoring attack during the 49th Season that led to three semifinal finishes.
CONVERGE
Just like Rain or Shine, Converge’s rise can be traced in that Season 46 draft in 2021 when the franchise was still owned by Alaska. Before Asistio and Caracut were picked in the second round, Alec Stockton was picked in the second round, No. 21 overall, by the Aces.
The following draft in Season 47 was the first for Converge and after selecting Jeo Ambohot, the FiberXers got Justin Arana at No. 4 to bring in a coveted big man to build around a franchise.
Converge also got a gem in the Season 48 draft by picking Schonny Winston at No. 9, but despite having a good core to work on, the FiberXers still ended up dead last that season.
The franchise’s fortunes would change the following season when Converge went on to pick first in the Season 49 Draft, with the FiberXers making Justine Baltazar as the No. 1 overall selection, forming a Twin Tower along with Arana.
Coupled with Stockton and Winston, the FiberXers made it to the quarterfinals in all three conferences with Stockton, Arana, Winston, and Baltazar being the top four leading scorers of that season in that order.
But even with playoff appearances, the FiberXers felt they needed more to bolster the team. So for the Season 50 Draft, Converge made a deal to acquire the No. 2 pick from Phoenix and selected former University of the Philippines standout Juan Gomez de Liaño, bringing optimism to the ballclub.
By building through the draft, Converge and Rain or Shine, at least on paper, could be in line to make it deep into the playoffs for the 50th season. A finals match-up against each other perhaps? We will find out this season.
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