LAS VEGAS – New Magnolia team governor Jason Webb is baffled by online speculations the Hotshots will eventually be the destination of young big man Geo Chiu, the top overall pick in the PBA Season 50 draft.
While Webb has all the respect for the 6-foot-9, two-time UAAP champion, the Magnolia executive said the team hasn’t laid an eye on Chiu as he stressed the Hotshots have enough size in the frontcourt right now with Ian Sangalang, third-year player Zavier Lucero, James Laput, Russel Escoto, and Joseph Eriobu.
Terrafirma selected Chiu with the No. 1 overall selection.
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Even before Sunday’s draft, a number of Facebook pages carried talks about Terrafirma's No. 1 selection supposedly being traded to the Hotshots.
Webb was quick to dismiss the trade rumor, not because there's supposedly a rule that bars PBA teams from trading the top overall pick - there is none - but because the Hotshots have no assets to trade for Chiu.
'Waka kaming puwedeng i-trade'
“I hope they (netizens) could tell us sino ang puwede naming i-trade. Kasi right now wala e,” said Webb, who took over the position from the now retired Rene Pardo.
“Wala kaming nakikita na puwedeng i-trade,” he said.
Attending his first PBA board annual planning session in his capacity as Magnolia governor, Webb disclosed the team was very satisfied with what it got in the last draft especially in the first round when it managed to land forward Yukien Andrada of San Beda at No. 6 overall.
“We’re happy with what we got in that mid-tier draft in (Yukien) Andrada,” added the former Magnolia deputy coach.
The 24-year-old Andrada had a pre-draft workout with the Hotshots, which the 6-foot-4 brother of former PBA player Yutien Andrada believed help him get picked by new Magnolia coach LA Tenorio in his first ever draft proceedings.
Aside from Andrada, the Hotshots also selected Gab Gomez in the third round and Joshua Yerro in the fourth round.
Magnolia’s first-round pick however, wouldn’t be able to suit up for the team right away as he still has to play his final season with the Red Lions in the 101st NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
Incidentally, even in the case the supposed trade for Chui proved to be true, Magnolia can’t also have his service immediately as the big man out of Ateneo is expected to complete his current contract with the Abra Weavers in the MPBL.
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