Fil-Am top choice in PBL-Liga draft

MANILA, Philippines - At least nine teams are competing in the first ever joint venture of the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) and Liga Pilipinas dubbed Tournament of the Philippines which starts June 2 in Manila.

Five teams from Liga and four from the PBL will make up the merger although officials of both leagues are still awaiting the confirmation of two other Liga teams in Taguig and Pampanga.

Meantime, Fil-American Clifford Hodge was selected as the top overall pick of the Pacman GenSan Warriors during yesterday’s draft at the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) office in Pasig.

Hodge is listed as a 22-year old, 6-foot-5 cager from Hawaii who is born to an American father and a Filipina mother from Sulu.

League officials described Hodge as a versatile and athletic player who can shoot from the outside.

Aside from the Warriors of congressman-elect Manny Pacquiao, other teams joining are Cebu, Misamis Oriental, Laguna and Mandaue from Liga, Magnolia, Pharex, Cobra and Agrinurture, Inc. from PBL.

Excelroof, winner of the PBL tournament last March, begged off from competing this time since most of its marquee players will be playing in the coming NCAA season starting next month.

Two other PBL teams – Toyota Otis and Hapee Toothpaste – also won’t see action but are likely to compete in the next conference probably in October.

Ani-FCA had Fil-Am Kelly Berry as the second overall pick while Pharex got Stanley Pringle as the third choice in the first round then picked Sean Anthony and John Smith in the second and third rounds, respectively.

Laguna took former Letran Knight Jomar Datang as its fourth pick in the first round and later grabbed Martin Antonio in the second round.

MisOr’s lone pick is Lance Beverette – the eighth overall pick in the first round. Cebu, on the other hand, took Shawn Weinstein as the last pick in the round.