Little-known Filipino-Canadian forward Owen Graham was picked as the first overall pick in the 2017 PBA D-League Draft by the AMA Online Education Titans, Tuesday afternoon at the PBA Cafe in Pasig City.
Graham is 25 years old and stands at 6-foot-4.
School-based squads Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Altas, and Akari-Adamson University Soaring Falcons opted to pass on all their picks, electing to field players from their own schools.
Wangs Basketball-Letran selected Jerrick Balanza as the second overall pick followed by Allen Marquez (EAC-Batangas), Keanu Caballero (CEU Scorpions), CJ Perez (Zark’s-Lyceum), Mohammed Pare (Gamboa Coffee-St. Clare), Kyle Toth (Marinerong Pilipino), RK Ilagan (Che’Lu-San Sebastian), Jose Romeo Bellosillo (Mila’s Lechon), and Kendrix Belgica (Go for Gold-CSB Blazers).
Other notable picks are Arellano Chief Michael Canete (Round 2, 1st) and Levi dela Cruz (R15, 1st), FEU Tamaraw Richard Escoto (R3, 1st) and Barkley Ebona (R4, 1st), and UE Red Warrior Philip Manalang (R12, 1st) to AMA; Alvin Pasaol (R2, 8th), Chester Saldua (R3, 8th), Abu Tratter (R4, 8th), and Vince Tolentino (R5, 8th) to Marinerong Pilipino; FEU Tamaraw Arvin Tolentino (R7, 9th) and former UP Fighting Maroon Rob Ricafort (R6, 9th) to Che’Lu-San Sebastian; and UP Fighting Maroon Javi Gomez de Liano (R10, 2nd), former NU Bulldog Michael Pate (R11, 2nd), FEU Tamaraw Hubert Cani (R13, 2nd), and Mapua Cardinal Christian Bunag (R14, 2nd) to Wang’s-Letran.
