Red Bull keen on ‘Mystery Man’...

One draft entry remained a mystery man up to yesterday but Red Bull is still exerting efforts to unlock his mystery, determined to make good use of its right for the first pick overall in the PBA Annual Draft today at Glorietta in Makati.

The exercise starts at 2 p.m.

Coach Yeng Guiao said they are biding their time in making the final decision although their choices are now down to three among Willie Miller, John Arigo and Michael Hrabak.

Guiao said they know Hrabak only by his name but he didn’t discount the possibility of the team making him this year’s top draft pick if they find the player to be tall and athletic.

"We tried to get information about the guy but we didn’t get anything. But we heard that he’s tall and so we’re considering him to be the top pick," said Guiao of Hrabak.

"We heard that he’s attending Shell’s practice (yesterday) and we tried to scout him there. But he didn’t come. Kung hindi namin makikita ang laro niya, we have no choice but to just make our decision after seeing how he looks during the drafting," Guiao added.

"Kung malaki talaga at mukhang athletic, we’ll take the risk of drafting him although we don’t know him."

If they find Hrabak not worth taking the risk, Guiao said they will likely pick Miller instead.

"We need him (Miller who plays guard) more than Arigo because of the loss of (Jimwell) Torion. But if you look at the long-term situation, you’ll take Arigo. The player is a good perimeter player with a great attitude," said Guiao.

Hrabak, Arigo and Miller are three of 57 players hoping to be drafted and eventually gain a stint in the country’s premier pro league starting this season which begins Jan. 28.

Among the other blue-chip players in the draft pool are Francis Adriano, Gilbert Demape, Michael Manigo, Ato Morano, Jonathan Serrano, Anton Villoria, Roger Yap, Recaredo Calimag and Marvin Ortiguerra.

Five Fil-Ams are in the pool, including David Matthew Friedhof who became a late addition after the player was able to show a Department of Justice confirmation of his Filipino citizenship released before Jan. 9 – the deadline set by the PBA.

After Red Bull, Shell picks next then Ginebra, Mobiline, Alaska, Mobiline again, Sta. Lucia, Purefoods and San Miguel in the first round. The draft order in the second round is Shell, Red Bull, Ginebra, Pop Cola, Tanduay, Sta. Lucia, Tanduay again, Alaska, San Miguel and Pop Cola. Past trade deals caused changes in the natural draft order.

Shell has long been in contact with Hrabak through his player-agent Rey Yncierto. However, it’s now uncertain whether the team can sign up Hrabak with Red Bull signifying intention to steal the player from the draft.

"Wala kaming magagawa kung hindi maghintay kung sino ang iwan sa amin ng Red Bull," said Shell coach Perry Ronquillo.

Ginebra coach Allan Caidic said the same.