REIGNING PBA Philippine Cup champion Meralco believes it can still draft a quality player even if it would be selecting late in the first round of the Season 49 rookie draft.
Coach Luigi Trillo said he is hopeful of getting a rookie pick that would complement the Bolts in the coming season of Asia's pioneering pro league.
The team is picking no. 11 overall during the July 14 proceedings at Glorietta, Makati.
"May babagsak pa sa amin. There's still a lot of guys out there. I think you got six guys locked in at the first six, and then seven to 12, you can argue what you need for your team," he said after taking a peek in this year's pool during the just concluded Draft Combine.
"But there's a lot of good talent now and I can see it."
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The Bolts got one serviceable rookie in last year's draft when they took young big man Brandon Bates as the no.8 overall selection.
Bates had a slow start in Season 48, but proved to be a valuable piece of Meralco's frontcourt rotation during the Philippine Cup, especially in the finals where he stood his ground against seven-time MVP June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel on the way to helping the Bolts win their first ever championship in franchise history.
This time Meralco will pick three notches lower from last year, but Trillo remains upbeat about getting another talent who is going to fit in to the Bolts' system in the same manner the 6-foot-8 Bates did.
He described this year's draft pool as loaded with point guards.
"One thing that strikes me is that maraming point guards this year," Trillo said, mentioning the likes of RJ Abarrienots, Evan Nelle, Jerom Lastimosa, and Mark Nonoy, all potential first round picks.
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"So I think we have to re-evaluate as a staff and see. And then we just have to go by your preference kung sino ang babagsak sa amin, and we're ready for that," added the Meralco coach, who unfortunately won't be able to attend the draft since he will be in Las Vegas over the weekend. (RG)
