Ildefonso, Nuyles eyed in PBA draft

MANILA, Philippines - Two-time MVP awardee Danny Ildefonso and Rain or Shine guard Alex Nuyles could well be the top choices for expansion teams Blackwater Sports and Kia as the PBA holds the dispersal draft at the PBA office in Libis, Quezon City today.

Guards Paul Artadi, Celino Cruz, Roger Yap, forwards Ronnie Matias, Larry Rodriguez, Ryan Buenafe, and centers Don Allado, Bryan Faundo and Hans Thiele are also expected to draw a second look from the two new PBA ball clubs.

The dispersal draft, set to start at 2 p.m., and the coming Rookie Draft are the two venues available for Blackwater Sports and Team Kia to form the rosters they would be fielding in PBA Season 40 set to start in October.

Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, who’s planning to coach and play for Team Kia, informed the PBA Commissioner’s Office he’ll be on hand to make Kia’s choices from the dispersal draft.

Blackwater Sports coach Leo Isaac said they’re also coming in full force.

“The management and the coaching staff will be having one final minute to firm up our list, then we proceed to the draft,” Isaac told The STAR.

“It’s not yet clear how the process goes. As far as I know, both teams will submit their wish lists. If there are similar names on both lists, we decide on a lottery,” Isaac also said.

High on Isaac’s list are Ildefonso, Nuyles, Reil Cervantes and Gilbert Bulawan.

Attending Blackwater’s tryouts and could be considered are Artadi, Cruz, Yap, Allado and Chester Tolomia.