A tough defender and a fearless slasher, the 6-foot-3 Cabatu is expected to conquer the stage once dominated by his 6-foot-5 father during the early 80s. The elder Cabatu was the only two-time MVP of the PABL, forerunner of the PBL.
"He’s a good player and he deserved to be the No. 1 pick. Overall, maganda ang resulta ng drafting natin, both in the Rookie and Dispersal," said commissioner Chino Trinidad.
In a bid to make up for a sorry performance in the last conference where it finished 8th, ICTSI also picked Tyrone Tang and Jose Redemptor Aquino, both of La Salle.
ICTSI also plucked 6-foot-7 Ervin Sotto in the Dispersal Draft, giving the team the height it needed to keep abreast with other teams.
Sotto, who last played for the now-defunct Nutri-Licious, is known for his post-up game and once described as perhaps another Yancy de Ocampo in the making.
Fil-Australian Jason Grigg was Pop Cola’s No. 2 pick, and third was UP’s Jay-R Reyes (Welcoat), fourth was UP’s Kenneth Robin, fifth was 6-foot-4 Nathaniel Cruz of Mapua (Montana), sixth was FEU’s Arwind Santos (Viva Mineral Water) and Christopher Intal.
The Paint Masters, who are the defending champions, also boosted their lineup by taking NCAA MVP Leo Nacorda in the second round and UE’s Nino Canaleta in the third round. They also took Christian Guevarra (fourth round), Nino Marquez (fifth) and Ricardo Ong (sixth).
Rounding up the second round picks were Jerome Paterno (Pop Cola), Artemio Almeda (Blu Star), Robert Sanz (Montana) and Douglas Kramer (Hapee). NCAA Finals MVP Ronjay Enrile of Letran was taken by Montana in the third round, a move that is expected to give the Jewels the much-needed numbers, what with his daring plays and feathery touch from beyond the arc.