Go: Being PBA Draft top pick ‘challenging’

MANILA -- Isaac Go thinks that it is very challenging to be the first overall pick of the PBA Draft. It was exactly what happened to him in the 2019 edition of the draft proceedings as Columbian made him the top pick on Sunday night at the Robinson’s Place Manila Atrium. “Of course, it is challenging because there’s always a pressure that people put on you just because you’re picked No. 1 overall. I just kinda feel the pressure a little bit,” said the sixfoot-eight center from Ateneo, who was chosen first out of 72 draft applicants. As early as now, however,

Go is already ecstatic about playing for the Philippines’ top tier basketball league. “I’m more excited than pressured to perform and to show that the No.1 pick was worth it,” he further said. However, he and the rest of Dyip may need to wait for up to three years before they can finally join forces as Go will be designated for the meantime to the Gilas Cadets that are groomed to mainly consist the national team to the 2023 FIBA World Cup. “It’s always an honor to don the blue and white for the Philippines,” added Go, who was actually selected first in a special draft that consists of five young ballers that will join the Gilas Cadets pool. Blackwater took Rey Suerte as the second pick, while Matt Nieto was nabbed by NLEX with the third pick. Allyn Bulanadi was taken by Alaska with the fourth pick, while Nieto’s twin brother Mike was selected fifth overall by Rain Or Shine. Like Go, the four players will not be joining their mother teams immediately due to their Gilas Cadets duties. The regular draft then took place with Columbian taking Roosevelt Adams as the first pick of the first regular round, essentially the sixth overall pick.