D-DAY FOR ROOKIE HOPEFULS
A record 87 neophytes will be up for grabs when the 2014 Gatorade PBA Rookie Draft gets underway at the Robinsons Midtown Atrium in Ermita, Manila 4 p.m. Sunday.
Six-foot-1 guard Stanley Pringle is expected to be the number one pick in the pool for GlobalPort, but the anticipation thickens from that point onwards.
Matt Rosser Ganuelas, Kevin Alas, Jake Pascual, and Ronald Pascual, all key cogs in the D-League success of the NLEX Road Warriors, are surefire first round picks, but uncertainty looms as the draft goes deeper.
Guys like Chris Banchero, Brian Heruela, Juneric Baloria, Jericho Cruz, and Rodney Brondial are also hard to pass on, as these guys showed impressive marks in the two-day Draft Combine last Monday and Tuesday.
Barring any flaws, KIA head coach Manny Pacquiao is expected to be selected at 11th overall by his mother ballclub, but the eight division boxing world champion won’t be around when his name is called in the proceedings.
Rain or Shine owns the number two pick in the Draft after acquiring the selection from Meralco in a previous trade. Picking next are Barako Bull, NLEX, Alaska, Barangay Ginebra, San Mig Coffee (from Barako, acquired from Petron/San Miguel Beer), Barako Bull (from Talk ‘N’ Text), Rain or Shine, Barako Bull (from San Mig Coffee), KIA and Blackwater.
San Miguel Beer, Talk ‘N Text, and Meralco do not own a first round pick in the first official event of the 40th season of the PBA.
Outgoing chairman Ramon Segismundo will be honored by PBA commissioner Chito Salud and incoming chairman Patrick Gregorio for his unwavering leadership in the past season.
The 2014 Gatorade PBA Rookie Draft is sponsored by the Midtown Atrium of Robinsons Place Manila, Sexy Chef, Iwata, and Magnolia Purewater and supported by Grilla, Shrimp Shack, The Old Spaghetti House, Inewvation, J.J. Sports Bar, Li-Ning, Sbarro, and Dunkin Donuts. (RL)
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