Coach Gavina sings praises for Santillan, RoS draft selections

CEBU, Philippines — For Rain or Shine coach Chris Gavina, the players they drafted are not only full of talents but also hardcourt warriors with positive attitude.

That was really the gameplan they laid down in the days leading to last Sunday’s PBA Season 46 Rookie Draft.

And when their turn came to select from the stacked draft pool, the Elasto Painters pulled Cebuano pride Leonard “Santi” Santillan as their first pick and fifth overall.

Gavina said they knew beforehand that the 6-foot-5 forward from Lapu-Lapu City is the right guy for them.

“When we held our annual draft meeting with the Rain or Shine bosses as well as myself and our staff, we all came to the consensus that we would target players that were not only the best available talent but also have displayed a great deal of character, grit and toughness throughout their playing career,” said Gavina in a report by PBA.ph.

“We feel we found that in Santi Santillan. He’s a known bruiser with a knack for rebounding and willingness to do the little things to help his team win. He carries himself with extreme dignity and poise under fire,” he added.

Santillan played for two years with the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers in the CESAFI before transferring to the La Salle Green Archers in the UAAP. He went on to establish a shining credential playing for the

Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 team and with the Bataan Risers and Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines in the MPBL

Aside from the 25-year-old Santillan, Rain or Shine’s other selections were Fil-Am guard Franky Johnson (17th) and collegiate standouts Anton Asistio of Ateneo (22nd) and Andrei Caracut of La Salle (23rd).