RAIN or Shine selected two picks in the first round and three in the second of the 2025 PBA Rookie Draft but Jun Roque headlined all the Elasto Painters' aspirants.
Roque was the final selection of the first round and a talent that coach Yeng Guiao is willing to bet on.
After all, the upside for him is high, which explains why he was ahead of his fellow rookies in the pecking order.
"You might get surprised by any of these guys. Sa tingin ko, wala tayong ready-made superstar na magkakaroon ng immediate impact but I feel the potential of these guys is on the high side," said Guiao at Mall of Asia's Music Hall on Sunday.
Roque wreaked havoc for Perpetual Help in the NCAA a few seasons back but he soon took his talents to Intramuros to join Letran.
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The Elasto Painters will have to wait until the end of NCAA Season 101 before they can decide on signing the dynamic guard as he still has a year of eligibility with the Knights.
That's fine for Guiao and company, though, especially since they're hoping Roque--and the rest of Rain or Shine's numerous picks--would turn out to be reliable swingmen like the ones they have at the moment.
"Baka meron kang makita diyan na magiging Jhonard Clarito o Adrian Nocum."
"We're always looking for those finds and there's an opportunity to draft these guys, see them in practice and make a decision."
Roque, who once played for league star Scottie Thompson's alma mater, already showed glimpses of his talents in the PBA D-League when he played for the Altas a few years ago.(RFJ)
