MANILA – AMA Online Education Titans selected Reed Baclig as their top overall pick in the 2020 PBA D-League Draft on Monday at the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Office in Quezon City.
The choice was considered a surprise move as AMA earlier expressed its interest of acquiring the services of De Le Salle University Green Archers’ forward Jamie Malonzo, who landed to Marinerong Pilipino Skippers as the No. 2 pick
This marks the fourth straight year that coach Mark Herrera and the Titans own the pole position of the said annual rookie selection, which serves as the first step for aspirants to go pro.
Prior to Baclig’s acquisition, AMA also selected the now Alaska Aces guard Jeron Teng (2017), Owen Graham (2018) and Joshua Munzon (2019) as top picks of the last three drafts.
After Baclig and Malonzo, former University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons guard Frederick Tungcab was drafted by the Karate Kid- Centro Escolar University Scorpions as the 3rd pick, while Wang Letran selected Jayson Bondoc.
The other players drafted by the Titans were Joshua Villamor, Christian Germino, Christian Camay, John Chris Yambao, Earl Ceniza, Allen Rodriguez, Zheanriz Romero, Joshua Seda, Eduardo Kapunan, Cymond Santos, Kobe Cruz, Richel Cabaluna, Alec Catorce, Lorenzo Orbeta, Michael Rio Simmonds, Luis Abaca, Waldrich Siy, Xavier Albances and Jefferson Arceo.
Marinerong Pilipinas Skippers also went big by signing Joshua Torralba, Jose Go IV, James Spencer, Rudel Fuentes, Darrel Menina, Yves Sazon, Juan Gastador, Marcus Jerome Ejercito and Rendell Senining.
For the Scorpions, they acquired the services of John Apacible, John Gob, David Murrell, Jamil Bulawan, Dariel James Bayla, Joseph Pineda, Daryl Pascual, Ivan Jose and Jerie Pingoy.
Other squads did not participate in this year’s rookie selection in order to parade their school based teams in the tournament that will start on Feb. 13./PN
