MANILA, Philippines—Barangay Ginebra, for the first time in 17 years, will have first pick in the PBA Drookie Draft.
The Kings hit the jackpot on Friday during the Draft Lottery at halftime of the PBA Governors’ Cup finals game one after the no.1 pick fell into the hands of Air21, which Ginebra has rights to.
The first round pick of the Express, which finished with a worst record this 2012 season, was acquired by Ginebra in a trade which involved John Wilson and KG Cañaleta last year.
PBA head statistician Fidel Mangonon said that it will be the Kings’ first no. 1 pick since the well-loved franchise drafted Marlou Aquino in 1996.
Among those highly-touted applicants in this year’s draft, scheduled on November 3, are big men Greg Slaughter and Ian Sangalang.
San Mig Coffee, meanwhile, will pick next after Ginebra as it acquired first round rights from GlobalPort, which drew second overall, in trade involving Josh Urbiztondo.