No brainer: Blackwater makes Rosser top draft pick

MANILA, Philippines — Blackwater, as expected, selected Fil-Am Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser No. 1 and made the most of its other prime picks in yesterday’s PBA Rookie Draft to load up ahead of Season 47.

Out to change their fortunes after a losing season, the Bossing took the rights to the 6-foot-7 Rosser to shore up their frontline then tabbed combo guard Kurt Lojera (ninth) and forward Mark Dyke (11th) in its next two turns in the first round. The Bossing added another big man in Ato Ular at No. 13.

Terrafirma, choosing second, took a gamble on Fil-Am Jeremiah Gray, who is still recovering from the ACL injury he suffered in the PBA 3x3 last year.

New team Converge went for size in Round 1, drafting a pair of 6-foot-7 bigs in Jeo Ambohot (No. 3) and Justin Arana (No. 4), then stacked up the backcourt with Fil-Am Kameron Vales (15th) and Jollo Go (27th) in the second and third, respectively.

Rain or Shine drafted Ateneo’s Gian Mamuyac (fifth) and National U’s Shaun Ildefonso (10th) as well as Jhonard Clarito (17th) and RJ Ramirez (18th).

At No. 6, NorthPort called up 6-foot-6 JM Calma while NLEX put the ceremonial jacket on La Salle’s Tyrus Hill at seventh and Barangay Ginebra chose Javi Gomez de Liaño at eighth.

Arana, Mamuyac, De Liaño and Ildefonso have been tapped by Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes as part of the national training pool. Per agreement between the PBA and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, the four will play with their respective mother teams but can be summoned by Gilas when needed.

Rosser’s status as top pick was a no-brainer, according to Bossing coach Ariel Vanguardia.

“It gives us the big man we badly needed. I have received very good reviews about him – very coachable, a good teammate, works very hard. He can run the floor and score inside-out. He’s a complete player,” he said of Rosser.