PBA Draft: Pringle official top pick, Alaska lands Banchero

MANILA, Philippines – GlobalPort officially made crack Fil-American guard Stanley Pringle as the top overall pick in the 2014 PBA Rookie Draft Sunday at the Midtown Atrium in Robinson’s Place Manila.

There were no surprises as to whom the first selection in the draft would be with the Batang Pier had openly expressed their interests in picking Pringle as early as last month.

“It’s a blessing to be considered as the top pick,” a humbled Pringle said during the Gatorade Draft Combine recently. “It’s a great organization (GlobalPort).”

“[I’m] a player that’s just going to play hard each and every day. Practice hard, be a leader and be a team player,” the 27-year-old Pringle, who has had many experiences playing as import in various countries.

Meanwhile, Rain or Shine selected Gilas Pilipinas cadet and former Letran star Kevin Alas as the second overall pick.

In a draft day trade, Barako Bull sent the rights to the third overall pick to San Miguel Beer for Chico Lanete, Jojo Duncil, the rights to the 2014 second round pick and 2016 first round pick.

The Beermen selected former San Sebastian swingman Ronald Pascual.

NLEX (formerly Air21) selected lanky forward Matt Ganuelas Rosser as the fourth pick while Alaska landed Fil-Italian playmaker Chris Banchero.

“I’m excited. They have a lot of pieces. They have a really great backcourt,” said the 25-year-old Banchero, who beefs up the Aces backcourt which already has JVee Casio, RJ Jazul, Cyrus Baguio and Dondon Hontiveros.

In the second draft day trade in just the first round, Grand Slam champion San Mig Coffee gave up the rights to the seventh overall pick to GlobalPort, which tabbed former San Beda forward Anthony Semerad, for the Batang Pier’s 2016 first round and 2018 second round picks.

A pair of former San Beda inside operators Jake Pascual and David Semerad went eighth and 10th picks, respectively while explosive scorer Jericho Cruz went ninth to the Elasto Painters.

New team Kia Motors drafted its head coach Manny Pacquiao as the 11th pick while Blackwater Sports, the second expansion team in the coming season, wrapped up the first round with former Ateneo Blue Eagle Juami Tiongson.

The 6-foot-1 Pringle will team up with veteran guard Alex Cabagnot at the backcourt for GlobalPort, which aims to turn its fortunes around in the 40th PBA Season opening in October after a forgetful campaign in the previous season.

The Aces opened up the second round by picking up former San Beda skipper Rome dela Rosa as the 13th overall pick.

Rain or Shine pulled the first surprise in the draft by drafting relative unknown Kevin Espinosa as the 12 overall selection.

The Energy drafted former La Salle big Papot Paredes while Kristoffer Alas reunites with his father and Alaska assistant coach Louie Alas with the Aces.

Arellano teammates Prince Caperal and John Pinto were also selected in the second round with both being drafted by the same team GlobalPort as the 17th and 19th overall picks.

Former ABL slotman Philip Morrison was picked by the Energy as the 16th pick.

Talk ‘N Text made Perpetual Help’s Harold Arboleda its first pick of this year’s draft as the 20th overall selection. ROS drafted its third guard in the draft in Mike Gamboa as the 21st pick before Barako Bull opted for Gab Banal, assistant coach Koy Banal’s nephew, as the 22nd pick.

Another San Beda big man in Kyle Pascual wound up with Kia to end the second round.