Manny joins PBA draft; B’water taps Ildefonso

MANILA, Philippines - Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao pushed through with his plan to apply for the coming PBA Rookie Draft yesterday, stealing the show in the dispersal draft where Blackwater Sports and Team Kia chose Danny Ildefonso and Reil Cervantes, respectively, as their top picks.

Pacquiao, supposedly attending to his wife Jinky who is sick, submitted his draft application papers in the sideline of the dispersal draft through Kia team manager Eric Pineda.

“Originally, Manny intended to concentrate on coaching. But Manny really loves to play, and his competitive spirit pushed him to join the rookie draft,” said Pineda.

“It’s for the love of the game,” Pineda also said.

The Kia management is hoping no one among the 11 other PBA teams would spoil Pacquiao’s dream of coaching and playing with the Kia team in the coming PBA season.

“We spoke to the commissioner about Manny’s wish. The commissioner said he would handle it his way,” said Pineda.

“We welcome the involvement of Rep. Pacquiao with Kia as a coach as first announced. And again we welcome the draft application of Congressman Pacquiao. We wish him luck,” said PBA commissioner Chito Salud.

It would be a little tricky for Kia to get Pacquiao in the rookie draft since old PBA ball clubs Globalport, Rain or Shine, Barako Bull, NLEX (formerly Air21), Meralco, Alaska, Ginebra, San Miguel Beer, Talk n Text and San Mig Coffee are picking ahead of Kia.

Kia and Blackwater dispute in a coin flip the 11th pick and the first pick in the third round of the draft exercise.

In yesterday’s dispersal draft held at the Tito Chef restaurant of Microtel in Libis, Quezon City, the two new PBA ball clubs acquired 12 players each with Blackwater making Ildefonso as the No. 1 pick overall.

“He’s a two-time MVP and the most senior in the pool. He would be the extended arm of the coach in the game. We’re happy with Danny I. We hope he can be our leader,” said Blackwater team owner Dioceldo Sy.

Through the league’s usual “alternating priority picks,” Blackwater also tabbed Alex Nuyles, JR Cawaling, Eddie Laure, Bryan Faundo, JP Erram, Paul Artadi, Gilbert Bulawan, Bambam Gamalinda, Chris Timberlake, Norman Gonzales and Rob Celiz.

Kia, on the other hand, tapped Cervantes, Mike Burstcher, Hans Thiele, Alvin Padilla, Jai Reyes, Paul Sanga, Angelus Raymundo, Eder Saldua, Nic Belasco, LA Revilla, Josh Webb and Richard Alonzo.

“I think we’ve formed a competitive team. We got 90 percent of the players we’re really hoping to get,” said Kia assistant coach Glenn Capacio.

Capacio said they discussed on the phone with Pacquiao their draft choices before the draft proceedings.

Blackwater Sports coach Leo Isaac was also satisfied with their choices.

“We would like to say we’re happy. We’re forming the best team possible to be competitive. We’re hoping for the very best. We hope everything goes well for Blackwater,” Isaac said.