DALPH Panopio’s ability to play both guard positions is what excites Blackwater after picking him at No. 3 in the PBA Season 50 Draft.
“We liked him from Day One,” said Blackwater coach Jeff Cariaso.
In selecting Panopio, Blackwater now owns three top three picks from the last three drafts in Sedrick Barefield (No. 2, 2024-25 season) and Christian David (No. 2, 2023-24 season).
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Cariaso said the 6-foot-1 Panopio, who once played for Batang Gilas, can slide to different roles and play alongside Barefield and David with his versatility.
“We like the fact that he can be a combo guard, play 1 and 2. Feeling namin that with the guards that we have right now, he can easily gel with any of our guards,” said Cariaso. “We feel puwede siyang big na 1, puwede rin siyang 2.”
“Being able to have that luxury, for him to play both ways, I think it’s positive for us,” said Cariaso.
Blackwater will look to make it to the playoffs for the first time since the 2022-23 Philippine Cup with Panopio's addition.
Cariaso also looks forward to work with the other players that Blackwater selected led by second-rounder Ximone Sandagon, a 6-foot-5 athletic forward who played for Far Eastern University, and third-rounder Jack Cruz-Dumont, a 6-foot-3 big guard from University of the East.
Blackwater also selected St. Benilde player Dominic Panlilio and UE product Gjerard Wilson.
“We are very happy. The first two picks were the first two picks that we wanted. We felt that they are going to be available especially si Ximone.”
“Blessing din ‘yung available pa si Jack and then we really wanted to look at (James) Una, see what he can bring. We will go from there. I know we picked a few other guys just so that we can look at them. Generally, it’s a good draft for us and we have tough decisions to make,” said Cariaso.
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