PBA: Possible selection of Stephen Holt may ease weight Juami carries

Possible PBA top draft pick Stephen Holt.

If it ends up picking what many see as the best talent of the PBA Rookie Draft instead of searching for what’s lacking, Terrafirma has a chance to benefit from having two talented backcourt players on its roster.

The Dyip could take Fil-Am guard Stephen Holt in the 4:30 p.m. proceedings at Market! Market! in Taguig City, which would make the always-languishing squad provide additional support for ace guard Juami Tiongson.

Holt carries impressive credentials despite being one of the oldest rookies in the field at 31, having played in Australia and Europe, and some see him providing an impact similar to TNT’s Mikey Williams.

But questions remain as to whether Terrafirma is going for Holt or opt for a big man that coach Johnedel Cardel’s team doesn’t have.

It was the same sentiment Cardel shared earlier this week, but it seems hard to pass on Holt if the Dyip franchise is willing to have him at least for the short term.

Second pick Blackwater is expected to be reactive with whatever Terrafirma decides on, and coach Jeffrey Cariaso may go with La Salle guard Schonny Winston.

Rain or Shine owns the third and fourth picks, a great luxury for coach Yeng Guiao to bolster his youth-laden team seeking greater things in Season 48.

NorthPort selects fifth, followed by Phoenix, NLEX and Meralco before Converge likewise makes back-to-back picks.

Rounding out the first round are NorthPort and Terrafirma, which will likely use that choice to fill its needs. Terrafirma got the right to pick first after another dismal season that produced just three wins out of 33 games, missing the playoffs of all three conferences.

That is despite a brilliant campaign from Tiongson, who averaged 18.1 points and should have owned a deserved All-Star selection.

But with the possibility of having Holt, Tiongson’s load may be lessened a bit.