MANILA, Philippines - Rain or Shine picked Fil-Nigerian guard Maverick Ahanmisi at No. 3 overall behind consensus top two picks Moala Tautuaa and Troy Rosario, allowing the rest of the teams to get their prospects in the well-attended 2015 Gatorade PBA Rookie Draft at the Midtown Atrium of Robinsons Place Manila yesterday.
Ahanmisi, the top gun of Café France in their recent PBA D-League title run, was the first aspirant to take the stage, chosen by the Rain or Shine management and coaching staff over Scottie Thompson and Art dela Cruz after a lengthy discussion.
Talk n Text and Mahindra (formerly Kia), as expected, made Tautuaa and Rosario the top choices in the draft exercises that went as far as the eighth round with 54 out of 63 hopefuls drafted.
Moala Tautuaa Sr. and Ramonita Tautuaa flew in from California to represent their son in the proceedings. Absent was any representative for the No. 2 pick Rosario.
New PBA commissioner Chito Narvasa barred player trades during the draft day but it’s no secret that Talk n Text is still pursuing to acquire Rosario from Mahindra.
“Only minor details are being ironed out,” said a source from Talk n Text.
“Going to the draft, our management was saying we’re drafting Troy Rosario. That’s the decision for now. If I would have my way, I would keep him and build our team around him. He’s a potential franchise player,” said Mahindra coach Chito Victolero.
With Rain or Shine tabbing Ahanmisi at No. 3, Meralco drafted Chris Newsome at No. 4, Barangay Ginebra enlisted Thompson at No. 5, NLEX picked Garvo Lanete at No. 6, Meralco grabbed Baser Amer at No. 7, Star Hotshots acquired Norbert Torres at No. 8, Blackwater salvaged Dela Cruz at No. 9, NLEX chose Glenn Khobuntin at No. 10, Alaska got Kevin Racal at No. 11 and Rain or Shine took in Jeson Nimes at No. 12.
Art Dela Cruz is a second-generation player, son of former San Miguel Beer stalwart and now Barako Bull assistant coach Arthur, No. 4 pick by SMB in the 1991 draft behind Alex Araneta, Bong Hawkins and Eugene Quilban.
Second-round draftees, from the top, were Almond Vosotros (Blackwater), Bradwyn Guinto (Mahindra), Don Trollano (ROS), Aljun Mariano (Ginebra), Simon Enciso (ROS), Marlon Magat (Alaska), Kris Rosales (Barako Bull), Jaypee Mendoza (Alaska), Michael Miranda (Barako), and Abel Galliguez (Alaska).
With four picks in the Top 15, Rain or Shine was the first team to pass as early as the second round.
“Thompson or Dela Cruz was my choice but my staff and the sons of boss Raymond Yu were for Ahanmisi. They have followed Ahanmisi in the D-League so I easily gave in to their recommendation,” said ROS coach Yeng Guiao.
“I guess he’s really a PBA material and can make an impact,” said Guiao of Ahanmisi, a 24-year-old combo guard from University of Minnesota.
Ahanmisi led Café France to a Final Four finish then all the way to the championship in his two conferences in the PBA D-League.
Seven Fil-foreign players were drafted in the first two rounds, with the California-born fourth pick Newsome joining his former collegiate coach Norman Black at Meralco.
With the return of Rabeh Al-Hussaini and their pre-draft acquisition of free agents Justin Chua and Bryan Faundo, Black opted to shore up their backcourt, using their two first-round picks on Newsome and Amer.
“I played four at Ateneo but I think I’ll slide to No. 3 spot at Meralco, and I’m excited with that. Another excitement is to be with my college coach,” said Newsome.
The seven Fil-foreign players drafted in the first two rounds were Tautuaa, Ahanmisi, Newsome, Torres, Enciso, Rosales and Galliguez. Many others were called in the latter rounds but they have to work real hard to make the tournament proper especially with the rule limiting to five the allowed number of Fil-Am players per team.
Presiding over the draft proceedings, Narvasa said: “I’m happy to be with my friends again.”
“I will do my best to make this league much better than what it is today when the time comes for me to take my leave,” he also said.
To all the coaches and players, Narvasa said: “Rest assured that I will work tirelessly to make your work place a place of fairness and integrity where your brilliance can shine and where basketball excellence can be achieved.”
Hearing their names called in the third round were Jason Melano (Blackwater), Daniel De Vera (Mahindra), Jansen Rios (NLEX), Roi Sumang (Globalport), Yutien Andrada (Barako), Lee Villamor (Ginebra), Joseph Sedurifa (Meralco), Mark Cruz (Star), Michole Sorela (Talk n Text), Mike Mabulac (SMB) and Nico Elorde (Alaska).
Curiously, the loudest cheers from the fans in the whole proceedings went to Sumang, Cruz and Elorde.
The fourth round had Keith Agovida going to Blackwater, Mike Di Gregorio to Mahindra, Jerramy King to NLEX, Ryan Wetherell to Globalport, John Ray Alabanza to Barako, Samboy De Leon to Star, Joshua Cubillo to TNT, Andre Stevens to SMB and Robin Rono to Alaska.
Drafted from the fifth to eighth rounds were Jawhar Purdy, Chris Palma, Mon Abundo and Randy Dilay by Blackwater; Alex Austria, Roberto Hainga and Mike Abad by Mahindra; Alfred Batino, Edgar Tanuan and Arvin Vitug by NLEX; Pedrito Galanza by Globalport and Emilan Vargas by TNT.
The 54th and last pick was Dilay. Undrafted were James Acuna, Alex Almario, Junar Arce, Carlo Gatmaitan, Dale Hodges, Jul-Shri Ignacio, Eric Miraflores, Mark Montuano and Adrian Santos.
Blackwater had the most number of draft picks with eight, followed by Mahindra and NLEX with seven each.