TWO Bacolodnons and one Ilonggo were among the 104 aspirants selected during the 2019 PBA Developmental League Rookie Draft on Tuesday afternoon at the PBA office in Quezon City.
Bacolod City native Jeffrey Manday and Guimbal, Iloilo native Carl Sumalacay were picked by Che’lu Bar and Grill Revellers, while while former De La Salle University Green Archers’ Kirell Montalbo was drafted by AMA Online Education Titans.
Manday, who led the Colegio de Sta. Ana de Victorias Titans in their NOPCSSCEA championship recently, said that he was thankful to the trust given to him by the Revellers despite him not available for the team until April.
“To be honest, I did not expect to be drafted especially that hindi naman po ako sa Manila naglalaro so I am very thankful sa trust na ibinigay sa akin ng Revellers,” Manday said.
“I promise to do my best para makatulong sa team. I know that they have a winning tradition since they were in the PBA D-League finals twice last season so I will do my part to contribute,” he added.
Manday and Sumalacay were just two of the players picked by the Revellers along with Sean Manganti, Juan Gomez de Liano, William McAloney, Rey Suerte, John Saycon, Paul Soriano, Jasper Parker, Victor Nunez, Carlo de Chavez, and Jomari Presbitero.
Montalbo, on the other hand, joins no. 1 pick Joshua Munzon, Fran Asuncion, Darwish Bederi, Alvin Fuentes, Virgilio Catequista, Nico Estibar, John Sayat, Drick Acosta, Nikon Alina, JR Dela Rosa, John Bacala, Zester Nave, Jonico Rosales, Arman Adviento, and Mark Jocson as Titans’ rookie selections.
Revellers and Titans were just two of the 20 teams that will participate in the upcoming conference along with UAAP champions Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles and NCAA titlist San Beda University Red Lions./PN
