PBA Draft 2008-2009 news and updates

[edgeknife]

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get mark borboran.... dapat sa purefoods o bisan alaska hahaha

[skadiboy]

Welcoat has lock on top rookie draftee
By Nelson Beltran
Friday, August 29, 2008


MACAU – No way Welcoat will deal away its right for the No. 1 pick overall in the 2008 Annual Draft.

Welcoat co-owners Raymund Yu and Terry Que stressed this yesterday with at least two teams still trying to work a trade deal involving the draft right a few days before the staging of the draft exercise Sunday at the Market! Market! Place in Taguig.

“It’s ours and it’s not for sale,” said Que, in an overseas phone interview with The STAR.

“They’ve been trying to get the pick as early as two months ago. If we’re to part with it, we’d have done that earlier, not now with three days to go before draft day,” said Yu.

Talk n Text and the San Miguel group have been persistent in their bids to acquire the pick, which could be used on prized Fil-Am player Gabe Norwood.

Ricky Vargas of Talk n Text and Robert Non of SMC apparently both made a final trade offer but Welcoat’s Mamerto Mondragon declined on the sidelines of the PBA board annual meeting here.

Mondragon, the Welcoat governor, stressed the Welcoat stand on the No. 1 pick as he left Macau ahead of the group Wednesday to drop by Hong Kong before returning to Manila.

“He didn’t relay the offer to us. He didn’t need to because he already knew we’re keeping the draft right,” said Que.

Sources said Norwood, a Philippine passport holder who has played for the RP team in two international tourneys, is to get his Bureau of Immigration confirmation and Department of Justice affirmation today making him eligible for the draft.

Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes is interested on both Norwood and Jared Dillinger – his discoveries from the US NCAA when he’s still coaching the RP team. However, he can only draft one using their right on the No. 2 pick.

Solomon Mercado, another Fil-Am, and Jayson Castro are the other highly touted players in this year’s draft pool.

Other noted talents include Jeff Chan, Jonathan Fernandez, Beau Belga, Rob Reyes, TY Tang, Mark Borboran, Kelvin Gregorio, Cholo Villanueva, NCAA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Kelvin dela Peña, Kelvin Delafu, Pong Escobal, Larry Rodriguez, Patrick Cabahug, Christian Espiritu, Lawrence Bonus, Chris Viardo and Charles Waters.

Completing the 47-man list are Ryan Regalado, Mark Anthony Cuevas, Andrew Catigan, Diomar Facum, Michael Dizon, Ismael Junio, Christian Reyes, Angelus Raymundo, Eian Yu, Dennis Concha, Frankly Nailon, Michael Gonzales, Mark Yee, Rene Cunanan, Eder Saldua, Nestor David, Earn Saguindel, Nizar Kiram, Ferdinand Melocoton, Juan Luis Abad, Christian Cabatu, Nathaniel Cruz, Lei Mar Navarro, Jan Coching, Michael Olino, Chito Jaime and Ricky Natividad.

The names of Norwood, Dillinger, Viardo and Waters have asterisk, pending the completion of their documents.

Magnolia owns the No. 3 pick, followed by Talk n Text, Alaska, Air21, Purefoods, Ginebra and Sta. Lucia to complete the first round.

[skadiboy]

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JASON CASTRO (center), the three-time Philippine Basketball League Most Valuable Player, could wind up as the PBA’s top draft pick if Gabe Norwood’s citizenship papers don’t clear by Sunday. --NONIE REYES


By Joel Orellana
Reporter

HISTORY has shown that top-rated rookie draftees to a basketball league don’t always live up to their potential—and that lower-rated draftees often pull off pleasant surprises.

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), which holds its 24th annual Rookie Draft this Sunday at the Market! Market! Mall in Taguig City, is no exception.

In 1985 the PBA, then under commissioner Mariano Yenko, instituted the league’s first rookie draft after 10 years of existence as Asia’s first play-for-pay loop.

Santiago “Sonny” Cabatu entered the annals of the PBA’s storied history as the first-ever No. 1 pick of the draft—one of the many rookies tabbed by league newcomer Shell, which bought the franchise of disbanded Crispa Redmanizers prior to the 1985 season.

Cabatu, the six-foot-five lefty center from La Salle, joined 22 others on the exclusive list of No. 1 picks in the history of the PBA Draft.

Sadly, many of the players picked first did not become as successful as they should be in their respective PBA careers due to various reasons that only dedicated fans of the league could explain how and why.

Cabatu was beaten by teammate Leo Austria, a fourth-round selection and 10th overall, for the Rookie of the Year (ROY) plum. Austria almost did not get that distinction as the PBA’s first-ever top freshman—as the league thought no one deserved to win the award.

In fact, league records state that out of 23 No. 1 picks, only eight went on to win the ROY award, with Larry Fonacier, then of Red Bull, holding the distinction as the lowest-picked player to win top rookie honors as the 14th overall selection.

Allan Caidic was the first top pick (by Great Taste) to win the ROY in 1987, and Benjie Paras is the only No. 1 pick so far to win both the ROY and Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards in the same year in 1989.

The draft was meant to balance the competition among the competing teams in the league, with the team with the worst record in the previous season getting the best chance to select the best talent available from the amateur ranks.

This Sunday Welcoat, after finishing last for second consecutive seasons, will again pick first.

As of this writing, the list of applicants is not yet out, but for the rookie hopefuls, the draft is the start of what could be a long and, hopefully, fruitful journey in the PBA.

Batch ‘85

UNLIKE in the last 10 years of the draft, when the activity was presented festively and held at big shopping malls in the metropolis, the 1985 draft was just held inside the board room of the PBA office. No colorful programs, no long speeches, no big trades and no PBA players going up in the stage, dressed in formal outfits accompanied by team officials (and sometimes children of team owners).

“Sa newspaper ko lang nalaman na na-draft ako ng Shell,” says Cabatu, now one of the anchors of PBA Radio. “Sa PBA office lang ginagawa ang draft noon, and those who were invited were the coaches and the team managers of the teams.”

Besides Cabatu and Austria, other rookies selected and who played in the PBA were Romy Ang, Menardo Jubinal and Alejandro “Aldo” Perez of Shell; Great Taste’s Teddy Alfarero and Lawrence Merced; Ramon “Onchie” de la Cruz of Tanduay; and Rey Perez of Ginebra.

“Before kasi, kinukuha ng Crispa at Toyota ang magagaling na players kaya ipinakilala ng PBA ‘yung draft,” Cabatu remembered.

He was honored to be chosen No. 1 and admitted that the pressure was there, but managed to keep that in check as he was surrounded by ex-Crispa players like Cezar and Bogs Adornado, who were absorbed by the Shell squad.

Besides playing with legends, Cabatu also recalled that the perks of the 1985 batch were not as substantial compared with what first-round draftees are receiving today.

“Sa pagkaalala ko, the top pick up to the seventh pick, pare-pareho lang kami P10,000 a month. Noong second year lang ako nabigyan ng increase ng P4,000. Ngayon, napakalaki na ang difference when it comes to salary,” says Cabatu.

“Noon, one-fourth lang ang suweldo namin sa mga highest paid noong araw tulad nina Mon Fernandez at Cezar. Ngayon, ’yung top pick halos kalahati na sa maximum ng liga, which is P350,000,” he added.

For the last couple of years, the PBA instituted a fixed monthly salary scale for the top three picks, which would earn them the maximum for a rookie of P150,000 a month, with a stipulated rate of increase based on league rules depending on the length of their contracts.

“Mabagal ang increase noong araw. Malaki na talaga ang difference ng suwelduhan ngayon kaya ang excited diyan ’yung mga rookies na darating,” says Cabatu, who only got a hefty contract when he played with Ginebra for two years where he received P160,000 a month in the first year and P180,000 the following year.

Talent versus need

IS there a cardinal rule in drafting a player? PBA coaches offered different insights, but they all have one common goal—to make their respective teams better.

But if they have the privilege of choosing first, will they go for the best available talent, or go for the missing piece that will make the team a title contender? Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio says he will always go for the best talent.

“To be safe, you go for the best talent. Either you get that talented player, formulate the system, or you get that player, trade the player for the player you need,” says Gregorio.

This was testified when Gregorio tabbed James Yap second overall in the 2004-05 draft. Shell picked Richard Alvarez as the No. 1 pick in that class and went on to win ROY.

The Giants mentor says he would still select Yap even if his team had the top selection.

“James fell into our lap,” says Gregorio. “Shell needed Alvarez and I thought Rich did a tremendous job for Shell that time, earning him ROY. But for us, on a longer scenario, James is helping us big time and we have formulated a system around him.”

Air21 head coach Bo Perasol shares the same view with Gregorio. “I would always go for the best possible talent. Then, trade for what I need.”

But for Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao, his decision in choosing an aspirant lies on what his team needs.

“I’m system-oriented, so I would go for what the team needs,” says Guiao, who will be looking for big men in the coming draft that could be threats in the low post.

Sta. Lucia mentor Boyet Fernandez, who steered the Realtors to their first All-Filipino crown last season, would also look for players to fill his team’s gaps.

“For me, I look first for what the team needs and next will be the best talent available, then look for a trade,” says Fernandez, who took a gamble last year when he opted for a lesser known Ryan Reyes as the team’s No. 3 overall pick.

Sta. Lucia owner Exequiel Robles had suggested the team get Ateneo’s JC Intal, but team manager Buddy Encarnado and Fernandez batted for Reyes, who eventually won the ROY.

Magnolia mentor Siot Tanquingcen also considers first what the team needs but, “There are cases where the talent is that much better you take the best talent then just decide how best to fit him in.”

Alaska’s Tim Cone says the situation is a case-to-case basis, adding that talent over need would still depend on the team’s situation.

“It really depends on your present situation. I don’t think you can make a hard rule,” says Cone. “It also depends where you are in the draft order. The higher you are, more for best player, the lower, more for the need.”

But Cone defied that rule in 1993 when his team, holding the No. 3 pick, was looking for a big man and had an eye on Jun Limpot and Victor Pablo. Unfortunately, the two were taken by Sta. Lucia and Ginebra, respectively, so Alaska took Abarrientos.

“We were in great need of a big man in the 1993 draft and we were not really interested in Johnny,” Cone was quoted in the book The First 25, about the PBA’s first quarter-century of existence.

Limpot went on to win the Rookie hardware, but Abarrientos later led the Uytengsu franchise to a rare Grand Slam in 1996—the year he won his MVP award.

Class ‘08

As for the aspirants for the 2008 Rookie Draft, the consensus is that Gabe Norwood will be the No. 1 pick of this batch. The 48 aspirants for this year’s draft are expected to be trimmed down when D-Day comes.

Some are saying this year’s batch is not as talented compared with last year’s class. This year is guard-dominated, led by Norwood, who at six-foot-five called the plays for George Mason University, a US National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I school.

Other guards expected to come out in the first round are three-time Philippine Basketball League MVP Jason Castro, local NCAA MVP Kelvin de la Peña, ex-La Salle guards TY Tang and Cholo Villanueva, and Fil-Am Solomon Mercado, whose style of play is being compared with Jimmy Alapag of the Phone Pals.

Quality big men will be rare this year, with only Rob Reyes, the nephew of former Ateneo star Eric Reyes, expected to create an immediate impact next season.

There are a few good wing men out there, led by University of the East’s Mark Borboran, National U’s Jonathan Fernandez and Adamson’s Patrick Cabahug.

Jarred Dillinger, the six-foot-five shooting guard out of University of Hawaii, could turn out to be the sleeper of the draft, but at present, his citizenship papers proving his Filipino lineage are not yet in place.

The draft order this year is: (1) Rain or Shine (formerly Welcoat), (2) Talk ‘N Text, (3) Magnolia, (4) Talk ‘N Text, (5) Alaska, (6) Air21, (7) Purefoods, ( Air21, (9) Ginebra and (10) Sta. Lucia.

With little talent from the pool, teams are expected to dangle trades to other PBA squads.

Norwood and Dillinger—if the latter manages to comply with PBA requirements—are expected to go 1-2, and it will be interesting to see how the Beverage Masters will use their No. 3 pick.

Unconfirmed reports have it that Magnolia is offering its No. 3 pick and one player to Red Bull for Cyrus Baguio. Of course, rumors will remain so until teams officially give a go signal to that proposal.

For rookies who worked so hard during their college days and in the amateur leagues, draft day is a climactic stage of their careers as basketball players. Being called up the stage is one thing, but being signed by the team that drafted them is the most important thing.

With the PBA Draft going public in recent years, the draft aspirants are now placed in a secluded area, so the public does not see the unlucky unselected ones.

Still, history tells basketball fans that being the No. 1 pick is no longer a guarantee of a successful career in the PBA—and it is also not an automatic assumption that the team that picks first would have a great season ahead.

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[skadiboy]

Norwood all set to be No. 1 pick
By Waylon Galvez, Manila Bulletin
August 29, 2008


Barring any last-minute surprise, Gabe Norwood, the exciting and slam-dunking guard from George Mason University, could be the next biggest thing in the PBA.

With Rain or Shine (formerly Welcoat Paints) all set to tab him as its No. 1 pick, the 6-foot-5 Norwood needs only to submit minor documents today to be eligible for the 2008 PBA Rookie Draft set Sunday at the Market! Market! Place at The Fort in Taguig City.

Three other Fil-Am players -- Jared Dillinger, Chris Viardo and Charles Waters -- are also required their respective original copies of certificate from the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID) as well as affirmation paper from the Department of Justice (DoJ) to join the annual drafting.

"Mukhang malinaw na makalaro si Norwood," said a PBA source who refused to be identified.

Well, it was already expected since the pro league has gave the former PBL hotshot a concession when it waived other documents like birth certificates and marriage contract of his parents, and submit only his DoJ and BID papers.

That because Norwood, who steered Hapee Toothpaste two straight finals appearances in the PBL, is a Philippine passport holder -- a reason why he was able to play for two national teams.

He first played with the all-pro team in the FIBA-Asia Championship in Japan and with the gold-medal winning all-PBL team in the 24th Southeast Asian Game in Thailand.

"Still, without a BID and DoJ papers, he's ineligible for the Draft, and that goes for the other (three) applicants. So we'll wait for their papers before we come up with the final Draft list," said Commissioner Sonny Barrios.

There were reports yesterday that Norwood is arriving today to personally hand the remaining documents needed to become eligible for the drafting.

Raymond Yu, co-team owner of Rain or Shine, said he also heard about that report but he could not verify it.

"We don't know if he's coming, but we hope it's true," said Terry Que, the other co-team owner of Rain or Shine.

A year ago, Rain or Shine used the top pick by selecting 6-foot-6 Fil-Am Joe De Vance. With either Norwood or Dillinger, Rain or Shine is expected to be a major force in the coming all-Filipino conference.

"We are determined to make our team a title contender," said Yu. "We look at Norwood as our savior. I know he can bring us to the Promised Land."

In case Norwood is not available, Rain or Shine will go for Dillinger. If Dillinger is ineligible too, the Elastopainters will tab former Philippine Christian University (PCU) standout Jason Castro.

"The developments as far as Draft or possible trades will be known after the deadline (today), because all these depends if Norwood and Dillinger would make it or not," the source added.

The 5-foot-11 Castro, a three-time MVP in the PBL, is currently playing in the Brunei Cup for the Singapore Slingers. The former Harbour Centre ace signed a lucrative 8-month deal with the Slingers.

But there's a possibility that Castro can still play in the PBA if someone buys his contract with the Slingers.

Three Fil-foreigners, on the other hand, have submitted their respective documents from the DoJ and BID, and these are Solomon Mercado, Rob Reyes and Kevin Delafu.

Solomon, a teammate of Castro with PBL champion Harbour Centre, and Reyes are also expected to be among the top five picks.

TNT will pick again at No.4, followed by Alaska (5), Air21 (6), Purefoods (7), Air21 again (, Fiesta Cup champion Ginebra (9) and Philippine Cup Sta. Lucia Realty (10).

From the original 49 who submitted their applications, only two were cut, UM's Diomar Facun and RTU's Michael Olino, after the two-day pre-Draft Camp held at the Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) in Taft Ave., Manila.

Other noted talents from the current 47 names include former national players Jeff Chan, Jonathan Fernandez, Beau Belga, TY Tang, Patrick Cabahug, La Salle's Cholo Villanueva, UE's Kelvin Gregorio and Mark Borboran, San Beda's Pong Escobal, NCAA MVP Kelvin dela Pena and Larry Rodriguez.

Completing the 47-man list approved so far by the Commissioner's Office are Ryan Regalado, Mark Anthony Cuevas, Andrew Catigan, Michael Dizon, Ismael Junio, Christian Reyes, Angelus Raymundo, Eian Yu, Dennis Concha, Frankly Nailon, Michael Gonzales, Mark Yee, Rene Cunanan, Eder Saldua, Nestor David, Earn Saguindel, Nizar Kiram, Ferdinand Melocoton, Juan Luis Abad, Christian Cabatu, Nathaniel Cruz, Lei Mar Navarro, Jan Coching, Chito Jaime, Ricky Natividad, Christian Espiritu and Lawrence Bonus.

Meantime, new PBA chairman Joaqui Trillo of Alaska said that the board would discuss in its meeting sometime next week the prospect of bringing back the old three-conference format.

Trillo, however, said that it would not be this year, although he mentioned having an invitational tournament after the season as part of the league's support to prepare the all-pro national team.

The nationals will compete in the FIBA-Asia Championship in China next year, which is the qualifying event for the 2010 World Championship in Turkey.

[skadiboy]

Norwood all set to be No. 1 pick
By Waylon Galvez, Manila Bulletin
August 29, 2008


Barring any last-minute surprise, Gabe Norwood, the exciting and slam-dunking guard from George Mason University, could be the next biggest thing in the PBA.

With Rain or Shine (formerly Welcoat Paints) all set to tab him as its No. 1 pick, the 6-foot-5 Norwood needs only to submit minor documents today to be eligible for the 2008 PBA Rookie Draft set Sunday at the Market! Market! Place at The Fort in Taguig City.

Three other Fil-Am players -- Jared Dillinger, Chris Viardo and Charles Waters -- are also required their respective original copies of certificate from the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID) as well as affirmation paper from the Department of Justice (DoJ) to join the annual drafting.

"Mukhang malinaw na makalaro si Norwood," said a PBA source who refused to be identified.

Well, it was already expected since the pro league has gave the former PBL hotshot a concession when it waived other documents like birth certificates and marriage contract of his parents, and submit only his DoJ and BID papers.

That because Norwood, who steered Hapee Toothpaste two straight finals appearances in the PBL, is a Philippine passport holder -- a reason why he was able to play for two national teams.

He first played with the all-pro team in the FIBA-Asia Championship in Japan and with the gold-medal winning all-PBL team in the 24th Southeast Asian Game in Thailand.

"Still, without a BID and DoJ papers, he's ineligible for the Draft, and that goes for the other (three) applicants. So we'll wait for their papers before we come up with the final Draft list," said Commissioner Sonny Barrios.

There were reports yesterday that Norwood is arriving today to personally hand the remaining documents needed to become eligible for the drafting.

Raymond Yu, co-team owner of Rain or Shine, said he also heard about that report but he could not verify it.

"We don't know if he's coming, but we hope it's true," said Terry Que, the other co-team owner of Rain or Shine.

A year ago, Rain or Shine used the top pick by selecting 6-foot-6 Fil-Am Joe De Vance. With either Norwood or Dillinger, Rain or Shine is expected to be a major force in the coming all-Filipino conference.

"We are determined to make our team a title contender," said Yu. "We look at Norwood as our savior. I know he can bring us to the Promised Land."

In case Norwood is not available, Rain or Shine will go for Dillinger. If Dillinger is ineligible too, the Elastopainters will tab former Philippine Christian University (PCU) standout Jason Castro.

"The developments as far as Draft or possible trades will be known after the deadline (today), because all these depends if Norwood and Dillinger would make it or not," the source added.

The 5-foot-11 Castro, a three-time MVP in the PBL, is currently playing in the Brunei Cup for the Singapore Slingers. The former Harbour Centre ace signed a lucrative 8-month deal with the Slingers.

But there's a possibility that Castro can still play in the PBA if someone buys his contract with the Slingers.

Three Fil-foreigners, on the other hand, have submitted their respective documents from the DoJ and BID, and these are Solomon Mercado, Rob Reyes and Kevin Delafu.

Solomon, a teammate of Castro with PBL champion Harbour Centre, and Reyes are also expected to be among the top five picks.

TNT will pick again at No.4, followed by Alaska (5), Air21 (6), Purefoods (7), Air21 again (, Fiesta Cup champion Ginebra (9) and Philippine Cup Sta. Lucia Realty (10).

From the original 49 who submitted their applications, only two were cut, UM's Diomar Facun and RTU's Michael Olino, after the two-day pre-Draft Camp held at the Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) in Taft Ave., Manila.

Other noted talents from the current 47 names include former national players Jeff Chan, Jonathan Fernandez, Beau Belga, TY Tang, Patrick Cabahug, La Salle's Cholo Villanueva, UE's Kelvin Gregorio and Mark Borboran, San Beda's Pong Escobal, NCAA MVP Kelvin dela Pena and Larry Rodriguez.

Completing the 47-man list approved so far by the Commissioner's Office are Ryan Regalado, Mark Anthony Cuevas, Andrew Catigan, Michael Dizon, Ismael Junio, Christian Reyes, Angelus Raymundo, Eian Yu, Dennis Concha, Frankly Nailon, Michael Gonzales, Mark Yee, Rene Cunanan, Eder Saldua, Nestor David, Earn Saguindel, Nizar Kiram, Ferdinand Melocoton, Juan Luis Abad, Christian Cabatu, Nathaniel Cruz, Lei Mar Navarro, Jan Coching, Chito Jaime, Ricky Natividad, Christian Espiritu and Lawrence Bonus.

Meantime, new PBA chairman Joaqui Trillo of Alaska said that the board would discuss in its meeting sometime next week the prospect of bringing back the old three-conference format.

Trillo, however, said that it would not be this year, although he mentioned having an invitational tournament after the season as part of the league's support to prepare the all-pro national team.

The nationals will compete in the FIBA-Asia Championship in China next year, which is the qualifying event for the 2010 World Championship in Turkey.

[skadiboy]

Top Stories Norwood given green light to join PBA draft
08/29/2008 | 08:07 PM

Email this | Email the Editor | Print | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Friday took a 180-degree stance on Gabe Norwood, granting the Filipino-American special consideration for him to be able to join the PBA Annual Rookie Draft Sunday at the Market! Market! Activity Center in Taguig City.

Norwood failed to submit his Department of Justice (DoJ) and Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID) affirmation papers in Friday’s deadline, but nevertheless will undeniably land as the No. 1 pick by a relieved Rain or Shine ball club.

In the end, the PBA said that the letter of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DoF) last year is enough to prove Norwood’s Filipino citizenship, a record PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios said before does not stand a chance on its own as a legal requirement.

Instead, Barrios now recognizes the letter, saying: “Since the DOJ contends that Norwood no longer needs the documents we required him to submit, it’s illogical on our part to insist on it."

Gonzales’ to the DFA states: “Having been born on Ferbruary 9, 1985, of a Filipino mother makes Gabriel Daniel Norwood a Filipino citizen under Sec.1 (2) of Article III of the 1973 Constitution which declares as citizens of the Philippines those whose fathers and mothers are citizens of the Philippines, at the time of their birth. As such, he should have the right to be issued a Philippine Passport in accordance with Sec. 5 of R.A. No.8239."

A total of 45 applicants will now try their luck of becoming pros in a field not necessarily that deep compared to previous draft procedures.

With this development, Rain or Shine – formerly Welcoat – will grab the opportunity to snare Norwood, the many-time national team player who played a key role in the Philippines’ campaign in the FIBA Asia Qualifying Tournament in Tokushima, Japan last year.

Talk ‘N Text owns the No. 2 pick and will likely choose Jared Dillinger, who also was announced eligible for the draft after submitting his DoJ affirmation papers before Friday’s 12noon deadline.

San Miguel Beer will pick third, a spot it got from Air21 when it traded Gabby Espinas. The Phone Pals will again choose at No. 4 followed by the Alaska Aces with the fifth pick.

The Express, runners-up in the recent Fiesta Cup, then pick sixth with Purefoods next in line. The Beermen once more gets to choose at eighth with Red Bull picking ninth. Sta. Lucia Realty, which won the Philippine Cup in the season just ended, chooses last in the first round.

Among the field, also expected to be picked in the first round are burly guard Solomon Mercado and former Philippine Basketball League most valuable player Jason Castro. –

[amamangloy]

naa pa nay big trades ugma... basin apason ni si Norwood sa SMB baylo nila ni Seigle ug Hontiveros.... wa lang ta kabalo

[digitalsuperman]

i hope not..seigle and dondon are old..

[st.anger]

TNT traded Jay Washington to the San Miguel Beermen in exchange for the 3rd pick..

sayanga oi.. mayta SMB ghapon mka kuha ni Castro.. para new PG sa Beermen..

[Motownkid]

unsay update sa '08 PBA DRAFT oi?... wala ko kakita ganiha...

ngek! Jay Washington to SMB?... another benchwarmer in the making...