Jordan Heading emerged as the top pick in the Gilas round of the 2021 PBA Rookie Draft, Sunday afternoon.
Heading, a 6-foot-2 guard out of Christian Baptist, was part of the Gilas Youth program back in the 2011 FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship.
“I think I’ve grown a lot. I’ve been able to take a lot of lessons from the coaches I had and I could bring that to Gilas and the PBA,” said Heading.
During his final year in Christian Baptist, he averaged 15.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game.
The 24-year-old also played for Alab Pilipinas in the ASEAN Basketball League, averaging 7.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists.
He will likely be the Dyip’s point guard of the future.
William Navarro, on the other hand, was selected by NorthPort.
“I mean siyempre, tumatanda na rin parents ko. That is why I want to help them as much as I can,” said Navarro on why he had to forgo his final year with Ateneo.
Navarro, 24, is a 6-foot-6 do-it-all forward out of Ateneo.
During his two-year stay in Ateneo, Navarro posted norms of 5.16 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 0.73 blocks in 30 games played.
He was part of Gilas Pilipinas during the Manama window of the 2019 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
Closing out the Gilas round was MVP teams selecting Tzaddy Rangel (NLEX) and Jaydee Tungcab (TNT).
Tungcab, a 23-year-old native of Santa Rosa, Laguna, is a 6-foot 3 defensive gem.
During his final year in University of the Philippines, he was tasked to defend the best players in the UAAP.
Tungcab had a standing offer with B.League Division II team Koshigaya Alphas. Unfortunately, hehad to let go of that dream due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
He was part of Gilas’ Manama team as well.
Finally, Rangel is a 6-foot-8 bruiser out of National University. Like Heading, he also played for Alab.
The quartet will immediately report to Gilas on Monday as the national team enters a month-long camp inside Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna.
