PROOF it's dead serious of competing in the PBA, new franchise Converge ICT buckled down to work during the Season 47 Annual Draft and got away with perhaps two of the best big men available in the 2021 batch.
Selecting third and fourth, respectively, the FiberXers used their picks to tab Letran center Jeo Ambohot at no. 3 and Justin Arana of Arellano at no. 4.
Ambohot, the first ever player drafted by Converge in franchise history, wasn't around during the proceedings as the Knights were playing the Mapua Cardinals in Game 1 of the NCAA Season 97 men's basketball finals, but Arana was present and personally received the traditional cap and jacket accorded to rookie draftees.
Coach Jeff Cariaso, team governor Chito Salud, players Jeron Teng, Kevin Racal, and Mike Digregorio, along with HR head Albert Custodio welcomed Arana to the FiberXers family.
"We got the top three or four big guys in this draft. So we're very fortunate with that," said Cariaso.
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Arana arguably, is the best big man in the soon-to-end season of the NCAA, averaging 14.8 points, 17.1 rebounds, and 2.8 block shots per game for the Chiefs. He was in strong contention for the MVP plum, but Arellano's failure to make it to the Final Four dashed his hopes of winning the league's highest individual award.
Ambohot meanwhile, averages 10.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.5 block shots for the undefeated defending champion Knights.
He was part of Gilas coach Chot Reyes' celebrated '23 for 23' list of players drafted back in 2018 that will make up the training pool for the national team competing in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
The two bigs are expected to man the young, athletic frontcourt of the FiberXers that will also feature Alaska carryovers Ben Adamos, Abu Tratter, and Kevin Racal.
In addition to Arana and Ambohot, Converge also got Kameron Vales and Jollo Go in the second and third round, respectively.
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"We're a young team and we're bringing in even more younger guys so it's really just going to be a matter of doing things together," said Cariaso.
"We're excited about the youth and their potential. I've heard nothing but good things about their work ethic. I think they're good guys also, no issues with character." (RG)
