BATANG PIER HOPING TO LAND NO. 1 PICK
Toiling at the end of the standings in the past season, GlobalPort will have a shot to get an immediate boost in the PBA Rookie Draft.
And whether they get the No. 1 or the No. 2 pick will be known during halftime of Game 1 of the Governors’ Cup Finals between Rain or Shine and San Mig Coffee on Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Batang Pier will have a two-thirds chance to land the top pick, with the other third going to Meralco.
Unfortunately for the Bolts, they have already traded their rights to their first round pick in the 2014 Draft to Rain or Shine via the Sol Mercado trade.
GlobalPort coach Pido Jarencio looks at this lottery as a chance to retool the young squad by inserting possibly an impact player which could help his team’s long term progress.
“I’m hoping na makuha namin yung number one pick at makakuha kami ng player that can help the team,” he said.
The affable Jarencio also said that for now, the Mikee Romero-owned franchise is just looking at the talents’ capabilities to help the Batang Pier move out of the cellar.
“Ang magiging pick namin, yung sa tingin naming best player in the Draft that can help our team,” he said.
GlobalPort finished seventh in the Philippine Cup, but struggled to mesh with Jarencio’s system in the next two conferences, where they won only twice in 18 games.
During last year’s draft, GlobalPort netted four rookies, but only Terrence Romeo remains with the squad now.
Meanwhile, it’s the complete opposite for the Elasto Painters, who own Meralco’s pick.
Rain or Shine finished runner-up in the Philippine Cup, made it to the semifinals in the Commissioner’s Cup, and is currently running in the thick of things in the Governors’ Cup Finals, looking to stop San Mig Super Coffee’s Grand Slam bid.
Coach Yeng Guiao and the E-Painters got Raymond Almazan, Alex Nuyles, and Jeric Teng in last year’s draft, and all three have been chipping in their share in RoS’ season.
This year’s rookie class also promises to be a stellar one, led by D-League MVP Kevin Alas, Garvo Lanete, Ronald Pascual, Jericho Cruz, Fil-Italian guard Chris Banchero and Stanley Pringle.
The 2014 PBA Draft will be held on August 24. (RL)
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