The 48 PBA Rookie Draft hopefuls, led by bright prospects CJ Perez, Bobby Ray Parks, Robert Bolick and Abu Tratter, know their respective fates Sunday in the draft proceedings to start at 5 p.m. at Robinson's Place Manila.
The excitement, however, is expected to start only from the No. 5 choice and onwards since it's a foregone conclusion Perez, Parks, Bolick and Tratter will be the top four picks.
Columbian Dyip and Blackwater have long made known their intentions to make Perez and Parks as the first and second choices.
"Walang pagbabago, kay CJ Perez kami. Alam namin na hinog na hinog na siya, and he could provide us instant firepower," said Columbian Dyip top official Bobby Rosales.
"In the second round, we'll try to land a point guard kasi wala rin naman gaanong malaki sa pool," Rosales also said.
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Blackwater team owner Dioceldo Sy said they would take in the player Columbian Dyip will pass on between Perez and Parks.
"Kung CJ Perez sila, Parks kami. Kung mag-Parks sila, CJ Perez kami. Baligtaran lang yan," said Sy.
The Ever Bilena franchise top boss said both the SMC and MVP Groups have been sending feelers for a trade.
"Pero wala naman konkreto pa. Kung meron man, papipirmahin pa rin muna namin, at titignan muna namin ang totoong kalibre kahit isang conference," said Sy.
NorthPort, at No. 3, is eyeing Bolick while NLEX worked hard to acquire Phoenix Petroleum's fourth pick to have a crack at Tratter.
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Then the guessing game would begin.
Other potential first-rounders are Javee Mocon, JP Calvo, Michael Calisaan, J-jay Alejandro, Paul Desiderio, Bong Quinto and Fil-Am Trevis Jackson from among the 48 hopefuls.
Somehow, Bolick, Calvo, Mocon, Calisaan and CJ Isit boosted their stocks as they made the Mythical Selection in the Draft Combine on Wednesday and Thursday at the Hoops Center in Mandaluyong.
Calvo, a 5-foot-8 guard from Letran, beat everybody for the MVP honors.
Tratter, Jeepy Faundo, Gideon Babilonia are the tallest among the hopefuls all at 6-foot-6.
Only 16 others were measured at 6-3 and above. These are Calisaan, Parks, Mocon, Kristoffer Porter, Jeffrey Ongtengco, Kent Jefferson Lao, Matthew Salem, Joseph Manlangit, Paul Varilla, Ronnie de Leon, Ralph Salcedo, Steven Cudal, Edrian Lao, Chris dela Pena, Clark Derige and Jorey Napoles.
The shortest is Ryan Monteclaro at 5-7.
The youngest is Calvo at 21 years old and two months while the oldest is Emmanuel Calo who's turning 29 on Dec. 27. (SB)
