Board tackles Draft order

The PBA Board of Governors meets tomorrow to tackle a delicate issue pertaining to the draft order of the 12 PBA teams for Gilas players in the Rookie Draft on Oct. 30 in Manila.

The board will scrutinize and try to come up with agreeable terms in the order of the regular draft. They will also discuss whether to honor the draft positions that teams acquired from a previous deal or use the new system in drafting the Gilas players.

If the regular draft is to be followed, Blackwater is likely the first to pick because of its last place finish in the last two seasons. Following the reverse order of finish and based on trades prior to the draft, the rest of the selection would have No. 2 going to Phoenix Petroleum, followed by Barangay Ginebra, Mahindra, Star Hotshots, San Miguel Beer, Meralco, NLEX, Rain or Shine, Ginebra, Alaska and Phoenix.

The Gilas players to be drafted include 6-foot-4 Mac Belo, who played with FEU in the UAAP. He also saw action with Gilas in the SEA Games, Seaba and Fiba Asia Challenge.

The other players in the Gilas list are shooters Roger Pogoy and Kevin Ferrer, guards Mike Tolomia, Jio Jalalon and Ed Daquiaog, Almond Vosotros, Russel Escoto, Von Pessumal, Carl Bryan Cruz, Alfonso Gotladera, Mathew Right and big man Arnold Van Opstal.

However, Vosotros will not be available in this year’s draft because he was earlier drafted by Blackwater.

Based on an earlier agreement between the PBA and SBP, each team is allowed to draft one Gilas player and that player cannot be traded in the next two years.

There are about 40 draftees under the regular draft.

The likely players to be drafted in the first round of the regular selection are Jonathan Grey, Joeffrey Javillonar, Raphael Banal, Joshua Alolino and Chris Javier.

Almost everything has been told about Barangay Ginebra’s storied winning of the Governor’s Cup crown.

But during the post-game interview with the sportswriters inside the pressroom on that fateful night of his crowning glory, coach Tim Cone revealed a fervent well-kept prayer.

Cone admitted he would not have survived another game if Meralco took Game 6.

“I don’t think I could coach a Game 7 mentally and physically. I just thought they’re gonna have to take me (first) to St. Luke’s. I was totally exhausted and worn out, I’m just so happy it ended tonight. My wife probably lost 10 pounds this whole series,” said Cone.

The Governors’ Cup was Cone’s 19th title since winning his first crown in the 1991 third conference with Alaska Aces.