Powerade should draft JVee Casio

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SMART-Gilas Pilipinas national team mainstay JVee Casio is the frontrunner for the No.1 pick in the 2011 PBA draft, and deservedly so. He has a feathery touch, be it from long range, from a spot-up position, coming off screens or creating his own shot.

He has also emerged as a surprisingly effective playmaker at the point guard position for the Philippine team, utilizing his status as a constant scoring threat to open up opportunities for his teammates.

On top of all that, Casio is one of the few truly high-character guys in the sport, a humble, soft-spoken kid with game that speaks volumes.

In a team filled with some of the nation’s best young talent, Casio emerged head-and-shoulders above the rest of his teammates, save for naturalized center Marcus Douthit. Casio was the consistent scorer, getting himself into double-digit figures with seeming ease.

In the recent FIBA-Asia Champion’s Cup, Casio averaged 13.3 points and 6.1 assists (2^nd best in the tournament) for the national team. Before that, he also led the SMART-Gilas locals in scoring and assists when they played in the 2011 PBA Commissioner’s Cup, where they advanced to the semifinals. Casio put up 14.2 points and 5.3 assists in the conference, numbers that were 12^th best and 3^rd best in their categories, respectively.

And that right there is all you need to know about JVee Casio. Despite what some would consider his advanced age – the 25-year-old had spent six seasons with De La Salle University in the UAAP and almost three years with the SMART Gilas program before joining the draft – Casio is worth the top pick because, as of right now, the guy already produces like a PBA all-star.

Casio’s scoring average in the Commissioner’s Cup places him squarely in between Jay Washington and Ranidel De Ocampo on the scoring list. His assist numbers falls between Jimmy Alapag and Alex Cabagnot. Casio’s 44.4% from three-point range, good for 5^th best in the PBA, is tied with LA Tenorio and a hair above Josh Urbiztondo. His understated rebounding finished right between Ryan Reyes and Roger Yap, two guards with outstanding rebounding reps. All-star is no exaggeration. Depending on team success, Casio just may crack the Mythical Team in his first season.

The guy can play with the best of them. And in fact, he already has. Casio had already run amok against some of the pro teams, scoring 29 points against Rain or Shine and another 29 against the team that should draft him tomorrow, the Powerade Tigers.

In the semifinals against Ginebra, Casio unloaded for 30 points in the lone SMART-Gilas victory against the Gin Kings. Even in the initial SMART-Gilas PBA stint pre-Douthit, Casio had already stuck 28 points on the Burger King Whoppers in the infamous Wynne Arboleda meltdown game.

And Casio has proven, both in La Salle and with SMART-Gilas, that he can play acceptable defense within a system. His lack of size ensures he might never be a lockdown type that can dominate games on the end, but Casio is a smart enough player to know how not be a liability to his team.

And as a bonus, Casio is a pretty good face of the franchise. His humble, low-key demeanor and infectious smile could be valuable tools for a team in need of a marketing boost. Casio is sort of a Chris Tiu lite in that regard, and in fact, owes his more popular teammate some of that marketability. Casio was part of several ad campaigns for wholesome brands that headlined Tiu like Milo and Greenwich.

And while he doesn’t quite have the looks of Tiu, he’s proven himself attractive in his own unique way, according to the gals over at SPOT.ph who named him one of their Top 10 “sexy-ugly” celebrities.

And the guy is a proven winner. He won multiple titles with the Green Archers in the UAAP, including one in which he was named Finals MVP. In the PBL, he turned around a last place Toyota Otis squad that already had Joe DeVance, and led them into the PBL finals. SMART Gilas has not won any major competitions, but they’ve proven competitive with the very best in Asian basketball.

There is little risk in drafting Casio; unlike most rookies, there are no concerns about him being a bust.

Yes, at his age, Casio might already be what he is. But what he is – a prime talent and known commodity with a solid pedigree and winning in his DNA – is exactly what Powerade needs.

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