AMA Online Education went the unconventional way as it selected little-known forward Owen Graham as the top pick in the 2017 PBA D-League Draft Tuesday at PBA Cafe in Metrowalk.
The Titans banked on familiarity as coach Mark Herrera selected the Fil-Canadian wing as the best recruit out of the 201-man rookie pool.
“Mabilis siya at all-around player siya. Naglaro na siya sa akin sa NAASCU at para siyang si Arwind Santos,” he said, comparing Graham to the 2012 PBA MVP.
Graham is set to pair up with big man Andre Paras for AMA’s campaign in the 2018 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup, set to tip off on Jan. 18.
School-based squads peppered the draft proceedings which saw heralded aspirants drop down to the succeeding rounds.
Wangs Basketball-Letran selected Jerrick Balanza at two, Batangas-EAC got Allan Richard Martin at three, CEU tapped Keanu Caballero at four, Zarks-Lyceum got CJ Perez at five, Gamboa-St. Clare picked Mohammed Pare at six, and JRU got Leonardo Esguerra at seven.
Marinerong Pilipino nabbed Fil-Am swingman Kyle Toth at eight, Che’Lu-San Sebastian picked RK Ilagan at nine, Mila’s Lechon got Jose Romeo Bellosillo at 10, and Go for Gold-St. Benilde finished the first round with Kendrix Belgica at 11.
Perpetual and Akari-Adamson passed on their picks during the draft proceedings as they are set to field complete varsity lineups for the first conference.
The draft also offered tons of surprises as Marinerong Pilipino nabbed collegiate standouts Alvin Pasaol (second round), Abu Tratter (fourth), and Vince Tolentino (fifth), while Che’Lu Bar and Grill-San Sebastian got Rob Ricafort (sixth) and Arvin Tolentino (seventh).
The draft proceedings lasted through 18 rounds which saw 124 players picked by the 13 teams.
