RoS hopes to pick best in PBA draft

MANILA, Philippines - Without dominant big men in the draft pool, Rain or Shine will settle for the best available talent when it picks at No. 2 in the 2014 PBA Rookie Draft set Aug. 24 at Robinsons Place in Manila.

It could well be anyone among Garvo Lanete, Kevin Alas, Mat Ganuelas and Ronald Pascual should the four aspirants decide to beat the deadline for application for the 2014 draft at 5 p.m. today.

“We don’t have a choice from the current list. It’s Stanley Pringle (Globalport’s prospect as top pick) and no more. We really have to wait for tomorrow (today),” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.

“If there’s no dominant big man or no long wing player that could fill in our need, we’ll go for the best talent,” Guiao also said. “We’ll take a look in practice; he might have a good chemistry with us. If not, we’ll just trade him.”

Bobby Ray Parks or Pascual might have been a good choice.

“But Parks is very doubtful. Ronald is okay but we’ve heard he’s not joining the draft,” said Guiao.

The Rain or Shine mentor is looking for only one rookie, saying he’s happy with his team that made the finals twice last season.

“We’re satisfied with our showing last season and we’re happy with our lineup,” Guiao said.

JR Quiñahan is returning from an injury while Paul Lee is being offered a contract-extension deal worth the maximum allowed in the league.

“Paul deserves the max. Our management is talking with his manager,” said Guiao, correcting reports that they have put the six-foot combo guard on the trading block.

It lost one player from the recent PBA dispersal draft with Blackwater Sports tabbing guard/forward Alex Nuyles.  

Meanwhile, Globalport owner Mikee Romero expressed confidence they would be competitive in the coming season even as they traded yesterday veteran player Eric Menk to Alaska Milk for two second-round picks in the coming draft.

“To the Globalport fans. At last, we have our first eight solid players,” said Romero on his Facebook account.

“First Five: Alex Cabagnot (PG), Ronjay Buenafe (SG), Keith Jensen (F), Jay Washington (PF) and Yancy de Ocampo (C). Terrence Romeo (SG), Kelly Nabong (C) and our 1st round pick...Stanley Pringle???. Relievers would be Mark Macapagal, Jewel Ponferada, Carlo Sharma. We might get one or two second round picks,” Romero added.