PBA draft today
Judgement day comes for the record 79 rookie hopefuls as the Philippine Basketball Association holds its Annual Draft for the league’s 39th season at the Robinson’s Place in Ermita Sunday.
Commissioner Chito Salud together with new board chairman Ramon Segismundo of Meralco will lead the proceedings that start at 4 p.m. and mark the first official business of Asia’s pioneering pro league for the new season.
Barring a last-minute change of heart, Ginebra is expected to tab big man Greg Slaughter as the no. 1 overall pick of Rookie Class 2013, which many projects as one of the deepest pool of talent ever to have applied since the Draft was formally institutionalized in 1985.
The Kings own the top overall pick and have been vocal about leaning on the 6foot- 9 Slaughter for the coveted selection.
Should everything goes according to plan, Slaughter is bound to become the second straight center to emerge as no. 1 overall pick after June Mar Fajardo of Petron last year.
After Ginebra, reigning Governors Cup champion San Mig Coffee takes its turn at no.2 followed by Rain or Shine at no. 3. The Mixers have been setting their sights on former NCAA Most Valuable Player Ian Sangalang, while the Elasto Painters appeared to be eyeing lanky big man Raymund Almazan of Letran.
Barako Bull owns picks no. 4 to 6, then Globalport comes next at seventh, Alaska at eighth, Rain or Shine at ninth, before San Mig concludes the first round at no. 10.
Petron, Air21, Meralco, and defending Philippine Cup champion Talk `N Text have no first round picks.
From its originals list of 85 applicants, the final number has been trimmed down to 79 after two withdrew while four others were stricken out for failing to attend the traditional rookie biometrics without valid reason.
Mar Villahermosa and Jeff Viernes withdrew at the last minute, while those stricken out were Japs Cuan, Mark Berry, Franz Delgado, and Jumel Chien.
Still, the rookie pool isn’t bereft of talent with the presence of reigning UAAP MVP Terrence Romeo, RR Garcia, Jerick Teng, Nico Salva, James Forrester, Jerick Fortuna, Ryan Buenafe, Jett Vidal, Eliud Poligrates, Carlo Lastimosa, Justin Melton, Isaac Holstein, JR Cawaling, Justin Chua, Rob Celiz, Alex Nuyles, Nate Mature, LA Revilla and Mike Parala, among others.