THE Smart Gilas Cadets were officially distributed to the 12 teams in the 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Draft yesterday with Mac Belo considered as the top player in the bunch.
With the special draft featuring the National team trainees already done, the league formalized the selections as it announced, in alphabetical order, where the Gilas players are headed.
Belo, widely recognized as the best talent available, went to Blackwater Elite as expected. National Collegiate Athletic Association superstar Jio Jalalon was selected by Star and versatile swingman Kevin Ferrer went to Barangay Ginebra. Those three were considered as the top prospects among all applicants.
San Miguel went big and acquired Arnold Van Opstal, Mahindra took Russel Escoto, Alaska got Carl Bryan Cruz, Rain or Shine tapped Mike Tolomia, Von Pessumal went to GlobalPort, Meralco had Ed Daquioag, NLEX added another big man with Fonso Gotladera, Phoenix grabbed a shooter in Matthew Wright and TNT KaTropa added a gunner in Roger Pogoy.
Belo expressed his excitement as his PBA career looms.
“I will do my best for the team. I will continue my hard work so that I can help the team. I am so excited,” said Belo who is projected to be the new star of the Elite.
In the regular draft that followed, the Elite also had the first pick and grabbed Ael Banal, a combo guard, to boost its backcourt.
He was followed by Gelo Alolino (Phoenix), Jammer Jamito (Ginebra), Joseph Eriobu (Mahindra), Chris Javier (Star), Rashawn McCarthy (San Miguel), Jonathan Grey (Meralco), Reden Celda (NLEX), Jericho De Guzman (Ginebra) and Phoenix Jeoff Javillonar (Phoenix).
Alaska and Rain or Shine passed in this round.
In the third round overall, Blackwater added Tristan Perez (Blackwater) and he was followed by Francis Tamsi (GlobalPort), Jessie Saitanan (Meralco), Jovit Dela Cruz (San Miguel), Ryan Arambulo (GlobalPort), Paolo Javelona (Phoenix), Cedrick Ablaza (Mahindra) and Alejandro Inigo (Phoenix).