NORTHPORT and NLEX will have three precious picks each once the next PBA Rookie Draft rolls around on March 14.
The Batang Pier and the Road Warriors both hold prime property in the draft order as they will pick twice in the first round and once in the second round from a pool that is becoming better and deeper by the day after the UAAP cancelled its season.
NorthPort owns the No. 2 pick overall just behind Terrafirma as well as the No. 11 pick in the first round which the Batang Pier got from TNT through the Mo Tautuaa-for-Terrence Romeo trade in 2018.
NorthPort will also pick first in the second round - a right it got by participating as the third team in the Jericho Cruz trade from TNT to NLEX. The pick was originally owned by Terrafirma from the Alex Mallari trade back in May 2017.
Meanwhile, NLEX will select third overall, which it received from Blackwater as part of the Poy Erram trade to TNT, as well as its own pick at No. 4.
NLEX also has the eighth pick (20th overall) in the second round which it got from the Cruz transaction. San Miguel originally owned the pick but sent it to NorthPort when the Beermen acquired Kelly Nabong in a trade for Gabby Espinas.
The second-round picks are expected to be valuable in the 2021 draft since the pool is tipped to be among the most talent-laden in recent years, more so after the cancellation of the UAAP season prompted some top players like Jerrick Ahanmisi of Adamson to fast-track their PBA plans.
Aside from Ahanmisi, also expected to put their names in the draft pool ahead of the January 27 deadline are Santi Santillan of La Salle, Alvin Pasaol of University of the East, 3x3 star Joshua Munzon, and Fil-American Franky Johnson.

Rain or Shine actually has the most number of selections in the first two rounds of the next draft, having four picks at hand with its lone first-round selection at no. 5.
The Elasto Painters' second rounders are at 17th overall; 22nd which they received from Phoenix Super LPG from the Mark Borboran-for-Jeff Chan trade; and 23rd which they got from TNT in the Ed Daquioag trade.
Alaska also has three picks: the No. 7 selection in the first round, as well as a pair of second rounders slotted at No. 19 and No. 21, the last of which was acquired from Phoenix in the Jake Pascual trade.
Terrafirma, which owns the No. 1 spot for the third straight year, will only pick in that pole position for the first two rounds. San Miguel (No. 8) and Meralco (No. 9) also share the same distinction and won't pick until the third round.
Magnolia, Phoenix Super LPG, and Ginebra both have selections in the first and second rounds, while Blackwater will have back-to-back picks in the second round at No. 14 and 15.
TNT has no selections in the first two rounds and will wait until the third round before they can get its hands on the rookie pool.
Here's the draft order for the next PBA Rookie Draft:
First Round:
1. Terrafirma
2. NorthPort
3. NLEX (from Blackwater)
4. NLEX
5. Rain or Shine
6. Magnolia
7. Alaska
8. San Miguel
9. Meralco
10. Phoenix Super LPG
11. NorthPort (from TNT)
12. Ginebra
Second Round:
1. NorthPort (from Terrafirma via NLEX)
2. Blackwater (from NorthPort via Meralco)
3. Blackwater
4. Phoenix Super LPG (from NLEX)
5. Rain or Shine
6. Magnolia
7. Alaska
8. NLEX (from San Miguel via NorthPort)
9. Alaska (from Meralco via Phoenix)
10. Rain or Shine (from Phoenix Super LPG)
11. Rain or Shine (from TNT)
12. Ginebra
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