The Kraken: The Next Big Thing in the PBA

Most PBA fans in some basketball forums already talking about the PBA Draft 2012, where one person than can change the aura of the team whoever draft him next year. I am talking about Junmar “The Kraken” Fajardo.

Fajardo, a 6’ 10” behemoth from Cebu, is one of the possible players that may apply for the PBA Draft next year. He is playing for the University of Cebu in the PCCL and soon to unleash his “beast mode” in January, playing for the San Miguel Beermen in the ABL.

Is he the next big thing in the PBA?

The answer is YES! Why? Aside from his superb basketball resume while playing in different Cebu leagues where he averaged from 30 to 40 points per game, the 37-year old league is very hungry when it comes to “height-given” players. The likes of Don Ramon Fernandez, Abet Guidaben, Venancio Paras, and Jerry Codinera really dominate the PBA during their prime and established some record breaking stats in every statistical category. The league also witnessed the new breed of giants in the likes of Samigue Eman, Yancy de Ocampo and EJ Fiehl, but the only impressive stat in their resume is they are picked not lower as third pick in the draft.

Asi Taulava is still a force to reckon despite of his age, and Japeth Aguilar, the newest giant on the block, is still raw and needs more improvement in terms of basketball experience, this is the best time for Fajardo to grab the opportunity to be the next big star in the PBA.

Fajardo is also being trained and guided by no other than, Ramon Fernandez. No wonder that in his young age (21?), he is equipped with superb basketball skills and good footwork which resembles the El Presidente during his prime. His passing skill is also respectable (credit to Don Ramon again), and his basketball IQ is also not questionable.

One of the few things that Fajardo must work on is his free throw shooting. Most of the PBA centers had low FT percentage, except EJ Fiehl which is more reliable in the free throw line rather inside the paint. Another thing is Fajardo must learn how to be a low post threat. Fernandez and Patrimonio is a very good low post player despite of being undersized in terms of height. If Fajardo will learn the basics of posting and with a little bit of elbow crushing ala Ranidel Ocampo, no one can stop him inside the paint. One last thing, Fajardo needs to bulk up. A Junemar Fajardo with an Eric Menk or Ali Peek or Dorian Pena frame with speed is a very dangerous player especially in international games.

We will see this January if Fajardo will rule the ABL once their season starts.

Another question is: Which team in the PBA has the edge in getting him in the draft next year?

Petron Blaze Booster acquired two first round picks in the 2012 draft, coming from Barako Bull and Shopinas Clickers, the first team to be eliminated in the Philippine Cup.

Now you know the answer.