MANILA, Philippines — As expected, Barangay Ginebra selected towering center Greg Slaughter as the number one pick in the 2013 PBA Draft to lead the 44 out of 79 rookie hopefuls who got picked on Sunday.
The seven-foot Slaughter, the tallest player in the aspirants’ pool, is the Kings’ first top overall pick since 1996.
Slaughter, who suited up for Ateneo in college and also practiced with the national team, has been working out with the league’s crowd-favorite squad even before draft day.
Meanwhile, there were no surprises in the second and third picks as San Mig Coffee picked former San Sebastian stalwart Ian Sangalang before Rain or Shine tabbed soon-to-be-named NCAA most Valuable Player Raymond Almazan from Letran at third.
Barako Bull traded its fourth pick to Ginebra in exchange for Rico Maierhoffer and Willie Wilson. The Kings, meanwhile, selected Fil-Canadian James Forrester from Arellano.
3rd pick from Rain or Shine Elasto Painters – Raymond Almazan. PHOTO by Nuki Sabio/PBA IMAGES
The Energy had other plans for their fifth pick as they traded the rights to Petron for Mark Isip and Magi Sison. The Boosters, then, sent the pick to the GlobalPort Batang Pier for Yousef Taha.
The Batang Pier then opted for reigning UAAP MVP Terrence Romeo from Far Eastern University.
GlobalPort also got the Energy’s sixth pick in exchange for veteran guard Denok Miranda, then selected another Tamaraw and former UAAP MVP RR Garcia.
The Batang Pier, after making it to the quarterfinals for the first time in their young franchise history, got another rookie in Isaac Holstein at seventh pick.
Ryan Buenafe, the Blue Eagles’ heady forward who even missed the PBA Biometrics but later on completed the requirement, was picked by Alaska at eight in a surprising move.
Former Adamson high-leaping forward Alex Nuyles, who injured his shoulder and sat out his last playing in the UAAP two years ago, joined fellow draftee Almazan in Rain or Shine.
The Mixers, meanwhile, went for Justin Chua, a big man with a sweet touch from the perimeter, to close out the first round of the draft.
4th pick from Brgy. Ginebra San Miguel – James Forrester. PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio
The record-number of rookie hopefuls attended the drafting festivities at the Activity Center of Robinson’s Place Midtown in Manila.
In the second round, GlobalPort opened with former Blue Eagle Nico Salva at 11th pick, while the Elastopainters selected University of Santo Tomas’ hero Jeric Teng at 12th.
Fil-American guard Justine Melton, who impressed in the PBA Biometrics last Monday by showing his sheer athleticism, went to San Mig Coffee at 13th pick.
For Energy’s first pick of the night, they selected former Tiger and champion guard for San Miguel in the Asean Basketball League Jeric Fortuna.
Lanky big Poy Erram, meanwhile, reunites with former college coach Norman Black in Talk N’ Text, which got the fifth pick in the second round from the Aces.
Air21 and Talk N’ Text tabbed forwards Eric Camson and Robbie Celiz, who both shone with different champion teams in the PBA D-League.
Another Tamaraw in Chris Exciminiano, meanwhile, went to Alaska.
Little-known Gayford Rodriguez, who played for University of Visayas in Cesafi, was selected by Rain or Shine while athletic guard Carlo Lastimosa, surprisingly picked late in the draft, joined Barako Bull.
5th pick from GlobalPort Batang Pier – Terrence Romeo. PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio
In the third round, Joshua Webb went to Air21, sharp shooter Jopher Custodio to GlobalPort, Zamboanga pride Darwin Cordero to Barako Bull, La Salle guard LA Revilla to GlobalPort after Ginebra traded the pick for future draft picks, and former University of the Philippines’ gunner Sam Marata to Petron Blaze.
San Beda’s diminutive point guard Anjo Caram was selected by Meralco, flashy guard Eliud Poligrates by Talk N’ Text, Raymund Ilagan by Alaska, actor Ervic Vijandre by Rain or Shine and former FEU player JR Cawaling by San Mig Coffee in the third.
Angelo Ingco was drafted by the Express to start the fourth round after GlobalPort passed; marksman Jett Vidal from Perpetual went to Barako Bull as the third pick in the fourth round; 300-pounder Fil-Hawaiian John Usita was picked by Ginebra next, meanwhile, to the delight of the Kings’ fans at the venue.
Jose Rizal University’s Nate Matute, Mapua’s Mike Parala and Ateneo’s Oping Sumalinog wrapped up the fourth round picks as they went to Petron Blaze, Meralco and Talk N’ Text, respectively.
In the fifth round, Randolf Chua got drafted by Air21, followed by Maroons Mike Silungan, Alvin Padilla and Mark Lopez, who filled up Barako, Ginebra and Meralco’s choices, respectively.
Crisp-passing guard Jens Knuttel, who went to Ginebra, and Ron Guevarra, who went to Meralco, were the only picks in the sixth round before FEU’s Mark Bringas closed the drafting proceedings as he got picked by the Bolts in the seventh and last round.
Among the notable players who were left out were Joseph Terso, Raymond Maconocido, Paul Sanga, and Mac Montilla.