TEAM representatives listen as D-League tournament director Eric Castro presides over the Rookie Draft in the presence of PBA commissioner Chito Salud (third from left, background).
MANILA, Philippines — Cagayan Valley beefed up its lineup in hopes of returning to the finals by picking the 6-foot-7 Moala Tautuaa as No. 1 overall in the 2014 Rookie Draft of the PBA D-League Monday at the league offices in Libis, Quezon City.
The 25-year-old Tautuaa, a Filipino-Tongan born in the United States, played for Chadron State College in the US and now sees action for Westports Malaysia Dragons in the Asean Basketball League (ABL).
“With his height, we think we can make it again to the finals,” said assistant coach Nonoy Bonleon of the Cagayan Rising Suns, the losing finalist to NLEX in 2013, which looms among the favorites in the fifth season starting Oct. 27.
Tanduay Light made Ateneo’s versatile forward Chris Newsome as the second overall pick, while La Salle’s star big men Arnold Van Opstal and Norbert Torres went to Cafe France at No. 3 and Cebuana Lhuillier at No. 4, respectively.
“He’s a complete package,” Tanduay coach Lawrence Chongson said of Newsome, who averaged 13.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 steals for the Blue Eagles in the UAAP eliminations.
“He plays multipositions. We picked talent over height.”
Rounding out the first-round selection were Fil-Am guard Kris Rosales (Jumbo Plastic), Far Eastern University’s Anthony Hargrove (M-Builders), University of Santo Tomas’ Rob Hainga (Wangs), Fabien Redoh (Racal), Maverick Ahanmisi (Hapee), Rizalde Angeles (AMA), Wowie Escosio (MP Hotel) and John Azores (Bread Story).
Three University of the East players were selected in the second round with top guard Roi Sumang going to Tanduay Light, Bong Galanza to Cafe France and Chris Javier to Hapee.
Other second-round choices were Jonathan Grey (Cagayan), Bradwyn Guinto (Cebuana), Jerramy King (Jumbo Plastic), Achie Iñigo (M-Builders), Joseph Ambohot (Wangs), Elmer Managuelod (Racal), Josue Diswe (AMA), Rashwan McCarthy (MP Hotel) and Joseph Gabayni (Bread Story).
Letran’s Rey Nambatac (M-Builders), San Sebastian’s Jan Ortuoste (Racal), Ateneo’s Nico Elorde (Hapee), UE’s Dan Alberto (MP Hotel) and Gino Jumao-as (Tanduay), La Salle’s Yutien Andrada (Cafe France) and Almond Vosotros (Cebuana Lhuillier) were the other notable picks in the draft that reached 15 rounds.