Galang, Rosario head PSL aspirants

MANILA, Philippines – La Salle's Ara Galang and Arellano Universtiy's CJ Rosario will be the consensus top two picks when the Philippine Superliga holds its rookie draft at the SM Aura on Friday.

 

Galang, a vital cog in La Salle's title conquest of Ateneo in the last UAAP season, showed up in last Thursday's PSL rookie camp, told officials she's joining the draft but didn't play nor participate in any of the activities as she had to leave for La Salle citing academics.

 

Minus Galang, Rosario, who was the biggest star when Arellano U won the NCAA championship two years ago, drew most of the attention after playing impressively in the draft camp.

 

It earned her at least a spot in the top two.

 

RC Cola-Army, which is picking first, is already in a bind on whether to pick Galang or Rosario.

 

“Both of them are very good. They are the rising stars in this league,” said RC Cola-Army coach Kungfu Reyes, who steered the Lady Troopers to the PSL Invitational crown early in the year. 

 

“But we haven’t sat down to discuss our draft choice. This is a very crucial decision. We have to do a lot of research and studying before coming up with a choice,” he added.

 

The drafting starts at 5 p.m. and will be aired live by TV5.

 

Galang, who has recovered fully from an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury she sustained last year, is reportedly nursing a bruised knee.

 

But the injury is considered minor and should emerge the first player from La Salle to be ever picked first in the PSL.

 

That is if Galang will not change her mind in the last minute as there were reports she is withdrawing from the draft to join former La Salle teammates Aby Maraño, Kim Fajardo, Mika Reyes, Cyd Demecillo, Dawn Macandili, Majoy Baron and Kim Dy at F2 Logistics as a direct hire.

 

There is a chance it will happen today.

 

There is also the possibility of the No. 1 pick being traded as RC Cola-Army is already loaded with talent that included Jovelyn Gonzaga, Rachel Anne Daquis, Honey Royce Tubino and Tina Salak.

 

“For now, RC Cola-Army owns the top overall pick. But we may never know. Maybe they have already traded their pick to another team to acquire a veteran who can help them win another title. Let’s wait until the draft proper," said PSL founder Tatz Suzara.

 

Also expected to go high in the draft are Arellano stalwarts Danna Henson, Shirley Salamagos and Angel Legacion as well as Asi Soliven of National University, Mary Grace Berte of Holy Cross of Davao and Marlyn Llagoso and Jerra Mae Pacino of Southwestern University in Cebu.

 

Renelyn Raterta of University of Mindanao, Jonah Sabete of Bulacan State University, Gen Casugod of Far Eastern University, Sheryl Laborte of University of Negros Occidental, Lourdes Patilano of Adamson University, Sarina Bulan of University of the East and Christine Suyao of Emilio Aguinaldo College are also in the list of applicants.

 

RC Cola-Army will be picking first in the original draft order followed by Generika, Perpetual, Standard Insurance-Navy, F2 Logistics, Cignal, Petron and Foton, which won the PSL Grand Prix crown last year.