By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
THE PHILIPPINE Basketball Association welcomed a new batch of rookies on Sunday with the successful staging of the annual rookie draft at the Robinsons Place Manila in Ermita.
For CJ Perez, Robert Bolick, and Trevis Jackson, three players selected in the top five and among the 41 selected on draft day, their selection was truly a valuable one as it was a fulfilment of a lifelong dream and now they are looking forward to the challenge of playing in the premier local professional basketball league.
“I’m excited and happy that I was selected first overall in the draft. I hope I get to play better for Columbian and repay the trust that they have given me,” said Mr. Perez, the top overall pick in the draft by the Columbian Dyip.
A former National Collegiate Athletic Association most valuable player awardee, Mr. Perez, 25, said he is looking forward to doing his part in lifting the standing of the Dyip as well as grow as a player in the PBA.
“I think I can help my team through my all-out effort and scoring. Hopefully I get to help and change the fortunes of the team. But I know it’s going to be a collective effort for us,” the Lyceum of the Philippines University standout said.
“I’m willing to learn and grow as a player in the PBA. The pressure will always be there as the top pick. I just have to accept it and deliver accordingly,” added Mr. Perez, who also shared that he likes the style of play of Columbian of not giving up no matter the odds.
San Beda University champion player Bolick, meanwhile, hopes to bring the winning mindset to the Northport Batang Pier, who selected him third overall.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge in the PBA. I’ve always excelled in challenges and I intend to the same in the pros. I’ll work hard to see my goals through,” said Mr. Bolick, who won three titles with San Beda in the NCAA and one in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines as part of the champion De La Salle University team in 2013.
“We are a team and I’m sure they will help me improve as a player,” he added as he spoke of what he expects from playing with the Batang Pier.
For the fifth pick Travis, he said staying true to who he is as a player would be key as he begins his career with the Meralco Bolts.
“I can bring energy, hustle, and a sense of camaraderie and urgency. I’m known to be a scorer, but I’ve been a true point guard my whole life and I can defend,” said Fil-foreigner Jackson when asked by media what he could bring to the Bolts.
Like any other rookie, he, too, is willing to learn the ropes and deliver from his end.
“I just want to learn, because you always want to learn from the people who came before you and take little pieces of them and adapt them to my game — that’s all I plan to do,” Mr. Jackson said.
Selected second in the draft by Blackwater Elite was UAAP and ASEAN Basketball League standout Bobby Ray Parks, Jr. with University of the Philippines’ Paul Desiderio plucked at fourth by the NLEX Road Warriors.
Rounding out the first round were Javee Mocon (6th) to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, Abu Tratter (7th) to NLEX, JayJay Alejandro (8th) to Rain or Shine, Jesper Ayaay (9th) to the Alaska Aces, Michael Calisaan (10th) to the Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok, JP Calvo (11th) to Columbian, and Jorey Napoles (12th) to the Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters.
Meanwhile, reports have that rookies Desiderio and Tratter are being shipped out by NLEX to Blackwater in exchange for big man JP Erram.
Trade papers were expected to be sent to the PBA Commissioner’s Office yesterday for approval.
In a statement, the Road Warriors said the decision was not a knock on the abilities of the two players but more of the need to fill a void in the team.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR