Welcoat picks three big men

For 12 hours the other day, the Welcoat management and coaching staff discussed the make-up of a team that would be competitive in its maiden season and went on to pick three big men in the PBA dispersal draft held at the Ultra Auditorium yesterday.

The Dragons acquired Rob Wainwright and Gilbert Lao from Coca-Cola and guard Denver Lopez from San Miguel Beer.

"We mapped out our plan from 3 p.m. (Wednesday) to 3 a.m. (yesterday) and we’re satisfied with what we’re able to get in the draft," said Welcoat team manager Boy Lapid, accompanied by assistant coach Caloy Garcia.

"We’re almost complete now and we think we’ve formed a competitive lineup," Lapid also said.

The Welcoat ball club debuting in the coming PBA season has earlier acquired free agents Jojo Tangkay, Froilan Baguion, Niño Gelig and Adonis Sta. Maria, and rookies Jay Sagad, JayR Reyes and Junjun Cabatu whom the team elevated directly to the pros from its PBL roster.

The team is likely to complete its lineup with its 10th and 11th picks in the 2006 Rookie Draft slated Aug. 20 at Market! Market! in Taguig.

Lapid said the team to be handled by coach Leo Austria starts its training Aug. 16.

"We feel this is a fighting team although we would have been happier had we got our former players who helped us win championships in the PBL," said Lapid.

Rommel Adducul, Eddie Laure, Marc Pingris, James Yap, Don Allado, Renren Ritualo and Nelbert Omolon were among former Paint Masters they tried but failed to get in the blind draft.

"In three to five years, target pa rin namin na mabalik sila sa amin," said Lapid.

Other "protected players" eyed by Welcoat were Air21’s Ranidel de Ocampo and Niño Canaleta, Barangay Ginebra’s Eric Menk, Alaska Milk’s Sonny Thoss, San Miguel’s Dorian Peña, Red Bull’s Enrico Villanueva and Larry Fonacier and Sta. Lucia’s Alex Cabagnot.

Failing to seal player deals with Air21, Ginebra and Alaska, the Dragons had their initial success in getting Wainwright from Coca-Cola.

They then plucked Lopez from San Miguel then Lao again from Coke.

The three players apparently made good impressions in the recent tryouts conducted by the team.

Under the draft rules, Welcoat was given four chances to pick a maximum of two players from each team. The Dragons picked from a "blind" list personally kept by the league commissioner. The teams were called to protect only 10 players from their rosters.