Painters to pick Lee’s replacement in draft: Pringle in the bag for Globalport

MANILA, Philippines - With Globalport having long made known Stanley Pringle as the team’s choice for the No. 1 pick, the guessing game in the 2014 Gatorade PBA Rookie Draft at the Robinson’s Place Manila this afternoon is who will Rain or Shine pick at No. 2 especially on the looming exit of ace guard Paul Lee.

Originally, Rain or Shine wanted a big guy to fill a gaping hole in its frontline rotation.

With Lee having personally informed the team of his desire to be traded, the Asian Coating Inc. may now opt for somebody to take over the spot of the 2012 Rookie of the Year in the team’s backcourt, and this may be either Chris Banchero or Matt Ganuelas.

A slew of trade deals may be made on the draft floor even before league commissioner Chito Salud formally announces the name of Pringle as the top pick in the 2014 draft batch.

The proceedings start at 4 p.m. 

Before presiding the draft exercise, Salud and the PBA board of governors present immediate past chairman Mon Segismundo a plaque of appreciation for his able stewardship of the league last season.

The biggest trade to come is the one involving Lee. The Rain or Shine management said they’re ready to give up Lee in exchange for the same value.

“He’s a franchise changer type of a player, and if there will be a trade, we will expect to get the same value in return,” said Raymond Yu, one of the two owners of the ball club.

“We want a quality big man,” said Terry Que, the other Rain or Shine top boss.

Lee, currently with Gilas Pilipinas in Spain gearing up for the coming FIBA World Cup, wants out curiously even as he’s being offered a maximum P15.12-million contract-extension deal by the Elasto Painters.

The team that is after Lee has yet to come out in the open. Lee’s existing pact expires at the end of the month.

“Your guess is as good as mine,” said Yu when asked who’s luring their prized guard.

The complete first-round draft order is Globalport, Rain or Shine (from Meralco), Barako Bull, N-Lex, Alaska, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, San Mig Coffee (from Barako, acquired from Petron/San Miguel Beer), Barako Bull (from Talk n Text), Rain or Shine, Barako Bull (from San Mig Coffee), Kia Motors and Blackwater.

 Talk n Text, San Miguel Beer and Meralco will not pick in the first round unless they are able to trade for slots. Barako Bull has three first round choices and Rain or Shine, two.

From a record list of 87 draft aspirants will come the new faces to infuse the PBA fresh flood in time for its 40th season.

The top six could well be Pringle, Banchero, Ganuelas, Kevin Alas, Ronald Pascual and Jake Pascual. The other top prospects are Rome dela Rosa, Prince Caperal, Rodney Brondial, Jericho Cruz, Kyle Pascual, Juneric Baloria, Juami Tiongson, brothers Anthony and David Semerad, and cousins Gab Banal, Jonathan Banal and Frank Golla.

Kia is expected to be let by the other teams to pick boxing icon and the Kamao coach Manny Pacquiao at No. 11.

Kia is also eyeing to pick former Southwestern U player Rene Pacquiao, cousin of Manny.