THE Titan Ultra Giant Risers are set for a massive rebuild ahead of the next PBA season.
No less than team owner Bryann Calantoc bared they are now reevaluating their lineup and that the remaning games of the team in the PBA Governors' Cup will serve as the barometer on whether a player deserves to stay in the team or not.
“We already told the players of the development. Not everybody can be with us next season. Masakit ito for us and, of course, for them, but that’s how it is if we aim to be very competitive in the league,” said Calantoc.
READ: NLEX, Ginebra have inside track on No. 1 pick
At the moment, Calantoc bared that Titan Ultra still has a shot at the top overall pick of the PBA draft set this January, but he told his team not to let up in their remaining games versus Converge (October 11), NLEX (October 14) and Terrafirma (October 17).
If the draft is to be held today, Titan Ultra will pick second, next to Terrafirma - whose first-round pick next season is in the hands of Barangay Ginebra after the Maverick Ahanmisi and Aljon Mariano trade - then Blackwater, whose own first-round pick now belongs to NLEX.
But Calantoc stressed that even if they lose their remaining three assignments, and Blackwater remains hot, it will not be a guarantee.
“Hindi na muna namin iniisip ang top pick kasi what we told our boys is what we want to atleast end our first-ever season campaign in the PBA on a decent note,” he said.
“Basta, pang ilan man kami, sino-sino man ang pumasok sa draft, we will carefully evaluate our pick. Sa ngayon, tingin ko second na kami so we need to find out kung ano ang kailangan ng Ginebra, para ma-assess namin sino ang kukunin namin,” he said.
Calantoc believes Ginebra will go for the best big man in the draft either, which could be either Kymani Ladi, Ced manzano, or DJ Fenner, so they might go for whoever will not be picked from the two.
“Basta ang objective namin is kung sino sa big men na papasok ang di kukunin ng Ginebra, assuming sila ang first pick, yun kukunin namin then dun kami magba-base ng build p for next season,” he said.
The youthful Titan Ultra current team governor will also make the most out of their three picks in the second round.
“Ang dami naming pwedeng gawin to make this team competitive in the next two years, then sa 2028, may dalawa kaming first round pick,” he said.
And with Cade Flores expected to be healthy next season after ACL surgery, Joshua Munzon and Fran Yu recently signing fresh contracts and Bryan Sajonia, hopefully, recovered next year from a knee injury, Titan will be looking for a major piece to add to the mix.
Other players currently in the Giant Risers pool are Aris Dionisio, Ato Ular, Paolo Javellonar, John Amores, Mark Omega, Axel Inigo and Von Pessumal.
Already gone are Jeo Ambohot, Jerrick Balanza and Damie Cuntapay joining other players already released by the team like Roi Sumang, Mark Sangco, James Martinez, Aljun Melecio and Mario Barasi.
“We might enter into trades and signing of best free agent players. Basta, I am hoping and praying for a different Titan Ultra next year. It’s going to be exciting,” said the 37-year-old Calantoc.
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