Red Bull picks Miller

Red Bull yesterday opted to pick its original choice, home-grown talent Willie Miller over the absent Fil-Am Michael Hrabak, to ensure an efficient court-generalship on its most important season as a major contender in the Philippine Basketball Association during the PBA Annual Draft at the Glorietta in Makati.

Without a glimpse of Hrabak, Red Bull went for Miller to firm up its pointguard spot with ace player Jimwell Torion going under the knife for a shoulder injury.

Instead, Shell picked Hrabak, an unknown quality despite heavy media dose on his credentials even as Barangay Ginebra made what could be the biggest steal by taking in another Fil-Am player Mark Caguioa.

Miller, Hrabak and Caguioa emerged the top three picks in what turned out to be an exciting draft witnessed by a huge crowd at the mall.

Shell team manager Bobby Villarosa admitted they advised Hrabak not to attend the exercise allegedly to keep him from being sized up by Red Bull. But Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao said they didn’t take a risk on the player without seeing him as he may turn out to be a dud.

"Mahirap na baka hindi naman pala magaling, magsisi pa kami sa huli," said Guiao of Hrabak, who is listed as a 6-foot-6 player who played for Central Arizona State in the US NCAA. A protége of former Pepsi Cola player Rey Yncierto, Hrabak reportedly arrived in the country Saturday.

Instead, Red Bull picked Miller, the 23-year-old former MBA mainstay who Guiao expects to become one of the league’s finest guards in the near future.

"I’m sure, he’ll become an instant star. He may even become the most dominant pointguard in the PBA. He has proven himself a scorer dahil consistent kahit saang liga mapunta from the NCAA to the PBL to the MBA," said Guiao of the former Letran ace who showed his stuff with Tanduay in the PBL, and with the Nueva Ecija Patriots in the MBA.

"Jimwell has undergone an operation and he may sit out the next five months. But I can’t wait to see Jimwell and Willie playing together. They are a potent guard combination," Guiao added.

The Photokina franchise actually got another promising guard in Anton Villoria (second round) before exercising its last pick on forward Dave Bautista (third round).

After enlisting Hrabak, Shell traded its second round pick to Tanduay before taking in two more picks in slotman Dino Manuel and forward Arvin Adovo.

With Miller and Hrabak out of the draft pool, Ginebra made a surprise move by picking Caguioa — a relative unknown before the draft day.

"Inaabangan ng Mobiline iyan pero nakita namin kaya inunahan na namin sila," said Caidic of the former Glendale Community College player. Arriving yesterday morning, the 6-foot-1 Caguioa attended the Ginebra practice before going to the draft.

"I even went to the US to see him in action. Magaling, parang Jeffrey Cariaso na mas maganda ang outside shooting," said Mobiline coach Louie Alas of Caguioa.

Missing Caguioa, Mobiline instead used the No. 4 pick which it acquired from Tanduay through a trade in drafting former Manila Metrostar guard Gilbert Demape. Later on, the Piltel franchise also got former MBA players Norman Gonzales (No. 7 overall). Jun Longalong, Ryan Bernardo, Jerald Ybañez and Jonathan Serrano. Demape, Longalong and Serrano all played under Alas at Manila.

Rounding up the first-round draftees were John Arigo (at No. 5 with Alaska), Francis Adriano (No. 6, Sta. Lucia), Marvin Ortiguerra (No. 8, Sta. Lucia), Roger Yap (No. 9, Purefoods) and Joey Mente (No. 10, San Miguel).

Forty-eight out of the 57 hopefuls were drafted with nine going to Tanduay Rhum. Hoping to rebuild its team through the draft, the Basic Holdings Inc. franchise took in Oliver Agapito, Recaredo Calimag, Charles de Jesus, Joseph Allan Salangsang, Dominic Uy, Maoi Roca, Jay Magat, David Friedhof, Michael Robinson.

Other players drafted were Marlon Basco (Ginebra), Jovy Sese (Pop Cola), Jercules Tangkay (Sta. Lucia), Kenny Evans (Alaska), Jomar Tierra (SMB), Ato Morano (Pop Cola), Marlon Piodo (Ginebra), Ramon Jose (Pop Cola), Michael Almonte (Sta. Lucia), Mike Garcia (Alaska), Paul Guerrero (Purefoods), Jeremy Aniciete (SMB), Rolando Basilides (Pop Cola), Francis Zamora (Sta. Lucia), Jonathan de Guzman (Purefoods), Calijohn Orfrecio (SMB), Joshua Lambert (Pop Cola), June Simon (Sta. Lucia), Allen Patrimonio (SMB), Isagani Malindog (SMB) and Leode Garcia (Sta. Lucia).

Star players conspicuously absent in the proceedings were Beermen Danny Ildefonso and Danny Seigle and Alaska’s Kenneth Duremdes. Each one has yet to sign a new contract.

Ildefonso and Seigle are still both out of the country but San Miguel team manager Robert Non doesn’t expect problem in their negotiations. Mobiline, meanwhile, is seeking to get Duremdes from Alaska.