BIG man June Mar Fajardo appears a lock as the top pick overall in the coming PBA draft, but on who would be picked next is the big question.
Fajardo, the 6-foot-9 center from University of Cebu, is set to be tapped by Petron as the year’s top overall pick, leaving Alaska to choose between San Sebastian's bull-strong guard Calvin Abueva and talented Fil-American Cliff Hodge when it is the Aces' turn to draft at No. 2 overall.
Alaska assistant team manager Dickie Bachmann said the Aces are torn between the two draft candidates, with their final decision depending largely on the import height limit for next season's Commissioner's and Governors Cups which the league board will approve during its ongoing annual planning session in Macau.
Petron, which also owns the third pick overall, will be closely watching the developments at Alaska as Boosters management has also set its sights on both Hodge and Abueva, who played under current Petron coach Ato Agustin during his early years with the Stags.
The Boosters, officials said, will grab at No. 3 who between Abueva and Hodge the Aces decide to leave out.
Meralco owns the fourth pick and has a plethora of potential stars to choose from on August 19 at Robinsons Midland Manila in what most coaches feel is one of the deepest draft pools in years.
One name that stands out is longtime amateur star Chris Tiu, which for so long had ties with the MVP group by way of his long association with the Smart Gilas national program.
However, another potential No. 4 pick is Fil-American Chris Ellis, who spent his years in the PBA D-League with NLEX which, like Meralco, is owned and controlled by the MVP group.
Reached for comment, Bolts coach Ryan Gregorio opted to play it safe, saying "we’re checking on everything."
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