CEBU, Philippines — Cebuano collegiate hotshot and former Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) MVP Rey Suerte has been selected by the Blackwater Elite as the second pick in the special Gilas dispersal draft as part of the 2019 PBA Rookie draft yesterday at the Robinson’s Place Manila.
Suerte will be one of the five players, who will part of the national team’s preparation for the 2023 World Cup. Their PBA mother teams will retain rights until they are released by SBP.
The 6-foot-5 Suerte is fresh from his impressive season in the UAAP where he became the leading scorer for the Red Warriors. Before that, Suerte helped the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers to a grandslam feat in the CESAFI.
Interestingly, Suerte will join another former UV and Lancer Paul Desiderio in Blackwater.
Columbian Dyip picked Ateneo Blue Eagles center George Isaac Go as No.1 in the Gilas draft, while teammate Matthew Nieto will now play for NLEX as No. 3 pick. Allyn Bulanadi became Alaska’s fourth pick while Rain or Shine picked Mike Nieto at No.5.
In the regular draft, Columbian Dyip chose Fil-American Roosevelt Adams as first pick followed by Maurice Shaw (Blackwater) at No.2 and MIke Ayonayon (NLEX) at No.3.