Washington looms as top PBA draft pick

With Jerry Codiñera dealt to Shell for Ronald Tubid, it’s as clear as day FedEx would make Fil-Am behemoth Anthony Washington the first pick in the PBA Rookie Draft Sunday at the Sta. Lucia East Mall in Cainta.

Actually, the rest of the teams have already accepted the fact that Washington will go to FedEx long before the two-day rookie camp which concluded yesterday at the Marikina Sports Center.

After the rookie camp, the consensus among PBA watchers is that Alex Cabagnot, Mark Cardona, Denok Miranda and Jondan Salvador would join Washington in the top five in the draft featuring a total of 53 aspirants.

Sta. Lucia Realty is likely to exercise its rights on the second pick on Cabagnot, Coca-Cola is tipped to pick Cardona at No. 3, Purefoods may opt to tap Miranda and FedEx is likely to use its second pick in the first round on Salvador. FedEx acquired its second pick in the first round in a previous deal with Red Bull.

Other players expected to be drafted are FEU’s Cesar Catli and Gerard Jones, UE’s Niño Canaleta, San Sebastian’s Leo Najorda, Ateneo’s Larry Fonacier Paolo Bugia, and University of Visayas’ Neil Raneses.

The PBA has reduced to two rounds its annual draft, thus, limiting to 18 the number of players to be picked in the exercise. Those who will not be picked will automatically become free agents.

The complete order of the draft is FedEx at No. 1 followed by Sta. Lucia Realty, Coca-Cola, Purefoods, FedEx, Alaska, Ginebra San Miguel, San Miguel Beer and Red Bull (acquired from Talk n Text).

Before the Rookie Draft, the Commissioner’s Office holds a dispersal draft involving players whose rights belong to Shell. To be dispersed are Codiñera, Joey Mente, Arnold Gamboa, Rob Duat, Eugene Tejada, Jeck Chia, Edwin Bacani, Tonyboy Espinosa, Estong Ballesteros, Banjo Calpito, Chris Jackson, Celino Cruz, Rensy Bajar, Carlo Sharma, Marlon Legaspi and Jun Marzan.

The Shell fold-up certainly makes it hard for amateur marginal players to make it to the pros.

Other noted players hoping to join the PBA in the coming season, which starts in October, are FEU’s Don Yabut, St. Francis’ Al Vergara, NU’s Froilan Baguion, St. Benilde’s Ronald Capati and Al Magpayo, UST’s Alwyn Espiritu, Adamson’s Mark Kong, San Beda’s Arjun Cordero and Welcoat Fil-Am Mike Holper.

Practically all the ballclubs are looking for either a slotman or a pointguard.