Cagayan selects Tautuaa as No. 1 pick in PBA D-League draft

MANILA, Philippines — Hoping to finally get over the hump, Cagayan Valley selected Fil-Tongan Moala Tautuaa as the top pick in the 2014 PBA D-League Draft Monday at the PBA Office in Libis.

The 6-foot-7 Tautuaa, who was born in the US, bolstered his stock as one of the top prospects in the Asean Basketball League (ABL) while playing for the Kuala Lumpur Dragons after going undrafted in the 2012 NBA Draft.

The Rising Suns had been to the playoffs several times and in the finals once.

MANILA, Philippines — Hoping to finally get over the hump, Cagayan Valley selected Fil-Tongan Moala Tautuaa as the top pick in the 2014 PBA D-League Draft Monday at the PBA Office in Libis.
Cagayan had been to the playoffs several times and in the finals once but with the 25-year-old power forward Tautuaa on board, next season looks to be promising for the Rising Suns.

“He will be of great help to the team. We have yet to win a championship and with his size I think we can make it back to the finals,” said Cagayan assistant coach Nonoy Bonleon in Filipino.

The 6-foot-7 Tautuaa, who was born in the US, bolstered his stock as one of the top amateur prospects while playing for the Kuala Lumpur Dragons in the Asean Basketball League (ABL). He went undrafted in the 2012 NBA Draft.

Tautuaa will team up with holdovers Michael Mabulac upfront along with wingmen Andrian Celada and Jason Melano.

The Suns also got what they wanted in Jonathan Grey with the second pick in the second round.

“We still have shooters in the team so we picked Grey. He’s a fighter and a slasher,” Bonleon explained.

Ateneo’s Chris Newsome went second overall pick to Tanduay Light (formerly Boracay Rum) while De La Salle’s big men Arnold Van Opstal and Nortbert Torres went third and fourth to Cafe France-CEU and Cebuana Lhuillier, respectively.

Tanduay Light also found a gem in University of the East star Roi Sumang, who fell into the second round as the first pick.

Fil-American guard Kris Rosales was tabbed as the fifth overall pick by Jumbo Plastic.

MJM-FEU M-Builders, another school based team, selected Anthony Hargrove as the sixth overall pick. Wangs Basketball picked former University of Santo Tomas reserve Robert Hainga in seventh while Racal-St. Claire picked its import Fabrien Redoh in eighth.

Rounding up the first round, Happee-San Beda chose 6-foot-2 Maverick Ahanmisi in ninth, AMA picked Rizalde Angeles, MP Hotel, a team owned by Manny Pacquiao himself, selected former Cesafi rookie-MVP Wowie Escosio in 11th and Bread Story-Lycum picked up John Azores in 12th.

Red Warriors skipper Bong Galanza went to the Bakers as the third pick in the second round. San Sebastian’s Bradwyn Guinto was picked by the Gems as the fourth pick in the second round.

Green Archers guard Almond Vosotros dropped into the fourth round and was nabbed by the Gems as the fourth selection.

The draft saw a record number of 153 applicants.

“With new players, we are very positive that the upcoming season will be exciting,” said tournament director Eric Castro, who headed the draft proceedings.
The fifth D-League season, which drew 12 teams, opens on October  27.
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