REBUILDING Blackwater is excited to exercise its rights for the top selection in the coming PBA Season 47 Rookie Draft with eyes on big men Justin Baltazar and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and backcourt dynamo Sedrick Barefield.
“For our No. 1 pick, we narrowed our choice among Baltazar, Barefield and Rosser,” Bossing coach Ariel Vanguardia told The STAR yesterday.
Mr. Baltazar, a 6-foot-8 La Salle standout capable of playing multiple positions, Mr. Barefield, a 6-foot-2 Fil-Am guard who played in the G League, and Mr. Rosser, a 6-foot-7 Fil-Am inside-outside operator, led the 75 hopefuls who have entered their names in the May 15 Draft.
The Bossing are determined to take advantage of their three first-round picks to beef up and turn their fortunes around after a woeful 46th season that saw them skid to their 29th straight loss. After choosing first, Mr. Vanguardia’s team takes the ninth and 10th selections.
“The other two (first-round) picks will depend on our first pick. If we pick Mress. Baltazar or Rosser, we will look for a wing for the succeeding picks. If Mr. Barefield, we will be looking for bigs,” said Mr. Vanguardia.
The Bossing actually ended Season 46 on a bright note as they toppled top seed Magnolia Hotshots in their final elims assignment, 101-100, last March 9. This enabled the franchise to snap their league record skid and avert a winless season while building some momentum moving forward.
Blackwater and the 11 other ballclubs will get a closer look at their prospects during the Draft Combine on Wednesday and Thursday at the Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong. Draft proper will be on Sunday at Robinson’s Place Manila. — Olmin Leyba