PBA draft today: Slaughter looms Kings royal pick

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Basketball Association finally holds its 2013 Rookie Draft today at Robinsons Place Manila with the Top Three picks a foregone conclusion, leaving a slew of trades to provide some excitement in the day.

Barangay Ginebra, San Mig Coffee and Rain or Shine will be the big winners as they will acquire promising young centers Greg Slaughter, Ian Sangalang and Raymond Almazan as the first three picks from the 79-man draft pool.

What happens next is tough to predict with Barako Bull reportedly turning the draft floor to a trade market in its turn to exercise its rights on the Nos. 4, 5 and 6 picks.

PBA commissioner Chito Salud presides the proceedings to be ushered in by the formal turnover of PBA board chairmanship from Robert Non of Barangay Ginebra to Ramon Segismundo of Meralco.

The question is how will the league commissioner look at the trade proposals with time constraint.

Reports said Barako Bull has committed to deal its first-round draft choices to Barangay Ginebra, Petron Blaze and Globalport. Earlier, the Energy Cola shipped exciting rookie guard Emman Monfort to the Ginebra Kings for third-string playmaker Rob Labagala.

Apparently, coach Rajko Toroman questioned these moves of the management, a disagreement leading to their parting of ways.

Before being terminated, Toroman had been looking forward to the draft, considering Terrence Romeo, RR Garcia, Jeric Teng and James Forrester for their three first-round picks.

A total of only 79 players made the final draft pool with Jeff Viernes and Jess Mar Villahermosa withdrawing their draft applications while Mark Joseph Berry, Japs Cuan, Jymel Chien and Ian Delgado cut from the list for missing the rookie camp without a legitimate excuse.

It will be Slaughter’s day with the former Gilas Pilipinas mainstay following in the footstep of fellow Cebuano behemoth Junmar Fajardo, leading their respective rookie classes in the pro league.

And for the second straight year, a former San Sebastian College star – Sangalang – will be the No. 2 pick. Eventual 2013 Rookie of the Year winner Calvin Abueva was the second choice after Fajardo last year. Sangalang, Abueva and Ronald Pascual used to form SSC’s deadly “Pinatubo Trio.”

Almazan will be the third draft selection, joining his Letran coach Caloy Garcia at Rain or Shine.

Other aspirants who may make the first round of the draft are Romeo, Garcia, Teng, Nico Salva, Isaac Holstein and Forrester.

Other strong hopefuls are Justin Chua, Alex Nuyles, Ryan Buenafe, Robby Celiz, Eric Camson, JR Cawaling, Justin Melton, Nate Matute, Jeric Fortuna, Tata Marata, Carlo Lastimosa, Joshua Webb, LA Revilla, JP Erram and Eliud Poligrates.

Last year, the draft went to six rounds, and 39 of 58 were chosen – the longest draft proceeding since the league reopened its two-round draft limit in 2010.

Among those making good impression in their rookie year were first-round choices Abueva, Fajardo, Cliff Hodge, Chris Ellis, Alex Mallari, Chris Tiu, and second-round picks Monfort, Yousef Taha, Raffy Reyes and Jaypee Belencion.

Picked beyond the second round but still able to get a contract was Simon Atkins.

The previous draft also drew a bumper crop led by Gilas guys Jayvee Casio, Chris Lutz, Marcio Lassiter, Mark Barroca and PBA D-League standouts Paul Lee and Allein Maliksi.

PBA officials are one in saying the 2013 batch is not wanting in depth and balance.