Unless coach Caloy Garcia had a change of heart at the 11th hour, Jason Perkins will become the no. 1 pick overall in the 2015 PBA D-League Rookie Draft.
Racal/Keramix takes the first crack in the draft, scheduled at 2 o’clock this afternoon at the Metro Walk in Pasig City. Garcia said the team will acquire the 6-4 Fil-American forward out of De La Salle with their first pick.
“We need a big man,” offered Garcia, convinced Perkins perfectly fits the role.
The second pick belongs to AMA Computer on-line education and coach Mark Herrera have expressed interest in local boy Alfonso Gotladera, a 6-6 center from Ateneo.
“We are on the look-out for a big man who could take the place of (Dexter) Maiquez and provide J.R. Taganas some help inside. Right now, our first option is Gotladera,” Herrera said.
Avery Scherer, who led the Asean Basketball League in assists and steals last season, is the most notable among 22 Fil-foreign players who are aiming to get into the PBA through its developmental league. Players who intends to join the PBA Draft must have played at least two conferences in the D-League to be eligible.
The third pick belongs to Tanduay Light followed by Foundation Cup champion Café France and Wangs Basketball.
UP-QRS/Jam Liner, Mindanao Aguilas, National University and Phoenix Petrolium will determine the order of selection from sixth to ninth place via lottery.
A record 189 aspirants have applied for the draft.
“This is a huge pool. Certainly, this is an encouraging development for the league and basketball in general,” said PBA Commissioner Chito Narvasa.