December 15, 2018

Tratter considers playing alongside PBA stars an edge in 2018 Draft

Abu Tratter believes the experience gained playing for the national team earlier this year will be beneficial once his name is called in Sunday's PBA Rookie Draft.

Tratter was a surprise inclusion during the second window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, even scoring two points in four minutes during the Philippines' 84-68 road loss to Australia in Melbourne last February.

Being alongside some of PBA's best served as a great learning tool for Tratter, who is expected to be one of the top picks in Sunday's proceedings at Robinsons Place Manila.

"It allowed me to pick up some ideas and thoughts on how to come about making basketball a job for me," Tratter said. "Just learning from veteran players like Gabe (Norwood) or June Mar (Fajardo) in seeing how professional they are, I think that is already an edge already."

The 25-year-old is considered as one of the best big men in a draft class loaded with guards.

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Tratter played four seasons with La Salle highlighted by a UAAP championship in 2016, while sandwiched between his FIBA stint were two impressive conferences with Marinerong Pilipino in the PBA D-League where he led the Skippers to back-to-back semifinal appearances.

"I think I feel confident coming into this draft, especially with the talent that's coming in this year," he said. "I'm not gonna say that I'm the best, but I'm confident with my ability coming into this draft." (JT)