PBA Draft: Blackwater takes Rosser as first pick, Gray goes to Terrafirma

As expected, Blackwater selected Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser with the no. 1 pick of the PBA Season 47 Draft, Sunday at Robinsons Place Manila.

The Bossing went with the most obvious choice after Sedrick Barefield failed to acquire a physical passport on time. Justine Baltazar also withdrew just days before the proceedings to entertain offers from Japan B.League teams.

Ganuelas-Rosser was not in the venue as Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 had just wrapped up its 31st SEA Games campaign in Vietnam. There, they bagged the bronze.

Standing at 6-foot-7, the brother of PBA champion Matt has the opportunity to be the Bossings’ main big man, something that the team has been lacking.

For the second pick, Terrafirma surprised many with its choice as it selected Jeremiah Gray. The Fil-Am guard is still recovering from an ACL injury, meaning that the Dyip will have to wait for months before having him in the fold.

New team Converge maximized its third and fourth picks by nabbing big men, getting Letran’s Jeo Ambohot and Justin Arana of Arellano, respectively.

Fifth saw Rain or Shine acquire another talent from the Ateneo Blue Eagles program, taking lengthy guard Gian Mamuyac. One of his best friends Mike Nieto made the announcement for the Elasto Painters.

NorthPort – a team hounded by drama lately surrounding top center Greg Slaughter – decided to inject more youth into its frontline by taking San Sebastian Stag JM Calma with the sixth overall selection.

NLEX, with the seventh overall pick, chose Fil-Am forward Tyrus Hill, who was supposed to join last year’s draft but was declared ineligible.

Crowd darling Ginebra used its no. 8 pick to get Javi Gomez De Liaño, who’s fresh from his stint with Ibaraki in the B.League.

Blackwater chose La Salle product Kurt Lojera with the ninth pick. The team went for a guard after nabbing a big man in Ganuelas-Rosser earlier.

Rain or Shine picked Shaun Ildefonso with the 10th selection, going for another solid option at the forward rotation led by Javee Mocon.

Mamuyac, Gomez de Liaño, Arana, and Ildefonso are the latest additions to the Gilas Pilipinas pool.

The Bossing used its 11th pick to get undersized yet bruising forward Mark Dyke.

Magnolia chose Adamson’s Keith Zaldivar with the 12th pick.

Rosser (Gilas 3×3), Gray (injury), Ambohot (NCAA Finals), and Hill (US) were not in attendance.