KIA, BLACKWATER BEGIN FORMING TEAMS; DANNY I TOP EXPANSION PICK
Expansion squads KIA and Blackwater Sports have started forming their teams, selecting 12 players each in the Expansion Draft held at the Microtel by Windham in Eastwood Friday.
With the rotational brownouts forcing the league to transfer from the PBA Office to the nearby hotel, the two teams picked players from the unprotected list submitted by the 10 teams and the free agents in a closed door meeting.
Though given the option to present their “wish lists” before the alternating selections, the two camps agreed to go the traditional way of alternating priority selection.
Blackwater won the first pick after a coin toss, which the Elite used to choose Danny Ildefonso as the first selection in the Expansion Draft.
“Talagang sya yung first choice ng team namin,” said Blackwater team owner Dioceldo Sy on the Ildefonso selection. “We know that he’s a two-time MVP and sya na yung pinaka-senior, so we want him to be the extension of the coach sa court.”
Joining the two-time PBA MVP in Blackwater are Alex Nuyles, JR Cawaling, Eddie Laure, Bryan Faundo, JP Erram, Paul Artadi, Gilbert Bulawan, Bambam Gamalinda, Chris Timberlake, Norman Gonzales, and Robby Celiz.
The Blackwater contingent were led by Sy and head coach Leo Isaac.
“We’ll play our very best, and hopefully, come October, we’re hoping for the best team. We’ll try to be competitive. We’re hoping for the very best and I hope that everything goes well for Blackwater,” said Isaac.
The Elite are coming to the big league after seven conferences in the PBA D-League where they won the 2013 Foundation Cup.
Sans head coach Manny Pacquiao, the KIA delegates, meanwhile, were led by Columbian Autocar Corporation President Ginia Domingo, team manager Eric Pineda and lead assistant coach Glenn Capacio.
They chose Reil Cervantes, Mike Burtscher, Hans Thiele, Alvin Padilla, Jai Reyes, Paul Sanga, Angelus Raymundo, Eder Saldua, Nic Belasco, LA Revilla, Joshua Webb and Richard Alonzo.
“We got 90 percent sa mga players namin so we’re happy,” said Pineda. “Majority of the guys we took are already in our practice pool.”
Capacio added, “We formed a competitive team. Sa opening day, ibibigay lang namin yung best. Di namin maipapangako yung panalo, pero yung KIA lalaban.”
The two teams will assume the contracts of the players they picked with live contracts. They also have until September 3, 2014 to sign up the free agents chosen.
The teams will still have the chance to fortify their squad in the 2014 PBA Rookie Draft set on August 24, with KIA picking 11th in the first round and Blackwater getting the 12th. (RL)
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