Adducul looms as top pick in PBA annual draft

Romel Adducul, arguably the best big man outside the Philippine Basketball Association, is ready to make the great leap.

In an overseas telephone conversation with his manager Ed Ponceja, the six-foot-six many-time national player, who is vacationing in the United States, said he is ready to play for any PBA team that will utilize his skills to the fullest.

But FedEx, which assumed Tanduay’s picks, could beat everyone to the draw in the coming PBA draft on Jan. 13 at the Glorietta, Makati City.

"As a professional, you have to give a hundred percent to whichever team you play for, although with FedEx, it is a familiar environment. Sir Bert Lina (FedEx owner), is just like a father to me because he has supported the national team a countless times," Ponceja, quoted Adducul as saying.

Adducul, who visited his sister Edna in Wisconsin last week, and is now with another sister Visie in Arizona, is expected to be back in the country on Jan. 4, in time for the national team tryouts on Jan. 7.

Ponceja said that all complications of Adducul joining the draft have been threshed out by Metrostars owner Louie Chuidian and ABS-CBN’s Rollie Cruz.

"Romel has an existing contract with the Metrostars but these two fine gentlemen acceded to his request of joining the draft. It could have been very complicated but they know Romel has to move on and we thank them for it," said Ponceja.

FedEx recently bought the Tanduay franchise for P75 million but is keen on elevating five of its players from the MBA to the PBA, just like what Red Bull did when it entered the league two years ago. But the request is still up for discussion on Jan. 3 by the PBA Board of Governors.

Other potential first-rounders are SEA Games RP team standouts Chito Victolero, Chris Calaguio, Omanzie Rodriguez and Junel Mendiola, St. Francis slotman Yancy de Ocampo and La Salle hotshot Ren Ren Ritualo.

The MBA yielded 28 of its players to the draft , including San Juan’s Danny Capobres, Laguna’s Jerome Barbosa, Cebu’s Willie Mejia and Socsargen’s Arnel Mañalac.