MANILA—Powerade will pick first first in the conditional dispersal Draft and could make Marlou Aquino as the only player in PBA history ever to be selected first twice in the proceedings.
“Honestly, my staff and I have yet to discuss our options,” Powerade coach Bo Perasol said on Wednesday. “Pero it’s no secret we need a big man and Marlou can fill that void.”
Aquino is part of a 14-man pool that will be dispersed following the leave that Barako Bull was granted by the league Tuesday afternoon.
The Draft will be held Feb. 7 so that the players won’t be idled while the Energy Boosters are away.
National team Smart Gilas will take the place of the Boosters in the second conference and all indications point to the Phiilippine five also playing in the next as part of its preparations for the FIBA-Asia Olympic qualifiers.
The 6-foot-9 Aquino was the first overall choice in the 1996 Draft, plucked by Ginebra out of Adamson on the way to the Rookie of the Year award.
Now at 38 and definitely in the twilight of his career, Aquino can go out with a bang if he can join the Tigers who are in desperate need of a reliable inside presence after trading away Asi Taulava prior to the start of the season.
Lordy Tugade, Jojo Duncil, Chad Alonzo, Paolo Hubalde, Borgy Hermida, Dennis Daa, Rob Wainwright, Ken Bono, Richard Yee, Vaughn Canta, Aris Dimaunahan, Mark Andaya and Khazim Mirza are the others in the pool.
Barako Bull most likely could have seen action in its last PBA tournament after more than a decade of glorious participation highlighted by three import-laden tournament titles for the franchise under Yeng Guiao.
The team has experienced bad times in the last three or four seasons with some players and utility staff reportedly yet to be paid their full salaries for December and January and the government-required 13th month pay.
Players picked in the Draft will be paid by their new teams until the time Barako Bull returns to the league. If the team doesn’t, which many believe, those with live contracts will be paid by the PBA for the duration of their existing deals.
“Most, if not all, of the Barako players have live contracts and they must be honored,” Salud stated. “I have promised before that I would always look out for the interests of the players and I intend to keep that promise.”
Meanwhile, Meralco has signed up former US NCAA slam dunk champion Anthony Dandridge as import for the Commissioner’s Cup that opens on Feb. 20.
Dandridge, a 6-foot-4 leaper out of the University of New Mexico, planes in next Friday to join the B-Boys.
He will be the fifth import so far after Titus Ivory of Powerade, Hassan Adams of Rain or Shine, Eddie Basden of Alaska and Robert Brown of Derby Ace.
Dandridge averaged 28 points and finished second behind World Basketball Championship veteran Fadi El Khatib in scoring in the tough Lebanese Basketball League.
"I have seen some of his clips on YouTube and his athleticism is out of this world," said Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio.
Musong Castillo, Phil. Daily Inquirer
