AMA Online Education selected unheralded Fil-Canadian Owen Graham as the top overall pick while Marinerong Pilipino hit the jackpot by selecting UAAP star Alvin Pasaol yesterday in the PBA D-League Rookie Draft at the PBA Cafe in Metrowalk, Ortigas.
The Titans went with familiarity over the chance to pick some of the prominent names in the amateur scenes by taking the 25-year-old Graham, who has been part of several AMA teams in the collegiate and commercial tournaments.
“Mabilis siya at all-around player siya,” said AMA coach Mark Herrera shortly after taking the 6-foot-4 player who hopes to showcase his skills for the Titans in the D-League’s eighth season which opens on Jan. 18 with the Aspirants’ Cup.
Pasaol, projected to be selected in the first round, landed in the second round with Marinerong Pilipino, who emerged as the biggest winner of the proceedings.
Marinerong Pilipino actually had a chance to take the University of the East star in the first round after Wangs-Letran, Batangas-EAC, Zark’s-Lyceum, Gamboa Coffee-St. Clare and Jose Rizal University drafted their school-based players when it took Fil-American Kyle Toth.
Marinero coach Koy Banal also drafted La Salle’s Abu Tratter in the fourth round, Ateneo’s Vince Tolentino in the fifth round.
Top players from Far Eastern University were also chosen late with AMA taking Barkley Ebona in the fifth, Arvin Tolentino picked in the ninth round by Che’Lu-San Sebastian, Hubert Cani in the 13th by Wangs.
