2011 PBA Draft first round recap: Casio first overall; Lee, Maliksi, Cervantes also picked

MANILA—As expected, Smart Gilas mainstays headed by JV Casio ruled the first round of the 2011 PBA Draft at the Robinsons Mall in Ermita, Manila

Casio, a five-foot-10 gunner, was selected as the first overall pick by Powerade.

“I still can’t believe it. It’s been a dream for me to play in the PBA,” said Casio.

Casio, the former De La Salle standout, bolstered his stock with a stellar showing with the Nationals in the recently concluded William Jones Cup.

Rain or Shine meanwhile, tabbed the draft’s dark horse Paul Lee as the second overall pick.

Lee, who led the University of the East to the UAAP finals in 2009, will be teamed up with another explosive scorer in Ronjay Buenafe to form a deadly backcourt duo.

The third pick which Petron got in a trade with Barako Bull, was used to select wing defender Chris Lutz.

Lutz’ teammate, Marcio Lassiter meanwhile joined JV Casio as the Tigers’ pick for the fourth overall.

Rounding up the first round were Mark Barroca (Shopinas, fifth overall), Mac Baracael (Alaska, sixth), Jason Ballesteros (Meralco, seventh), Allein Maliksi (Barako Bull from Petron, eighth), Reil Cervantes (Ginebra, ninth) and Dylan Ababou (Barako Bull, 10th).