MANILA---Only a handful of players are expected to be picked in the Dispersal Draft the PBA will hold for Barako Bull’s displaced roster on Monday because the remaining nine teams have a surplus of players in their respective lineups.

Powerade, which will pick first after finishing in a tie for last place with the Energy Boosters in the Philippine Cup, has 16 players in its active roster and is expected to pass up the chance to strengthen its lineup for the next conference, the Commissioner’s Cup.

Rain or Shine, Meralco and Barangay Ginebra are also reportedly not interested in picking from the draft.

Llamados eyeing Escobal
Derby Ace, though, is looking at the possibility of acquiring Pong Escobal while Air21 is likely to tap point guard Marvin Cruz.

The draft, which will be held at the PBA offices in Libis, Quezon City, was necessitated by Barako Bull’s leave of absence from the league.

Barako Bull is lending its slot to the Smart-Gilas national squad.

Even if some of its players are not picked, the league has promised to assume the contracts of those players and staff who have live deals.

Also on Monday, the league’s board of governors will meet to tackle the television coverage for the next conference, as well as to talk to representatives of companies interested in joining the Developmental League.

D-League meet draws 11 firms

At least 11 companies have shown interest in playing in the PBA’s first-ever farm league and all their representatives will attend Monday’s meeting with members of the league board.

Maynilad of Manny V. Pangilinan, who also owns Talk ‘N Text and Meralco in the PBA, the University of the Philippines, the North Luzon Expressway, and a company represented by Lambert Ramos are just four of the firms interested in joining the D-League.

Two other former PBL teams, which requested not to be named at the moment, will also be in the meeting.

New Alaska import

In a related development, Alaska yesterday came to terms with L.D. Williams, a former Wake Forest standout in the United States NCAA.

Williams is expected to plane in on Monday and take the spot originally reserved for Eddie Basden, who had been disqualified from playing in the Commissioner’s Cup after being measured to be a quarter-of-an-inch taller than the 6-foot-4 limit.

Williams will be coming from the same program that produced NBA great Tim Duncan. He finished his career at Wake Forest with 1,005 points, 136 steals, and ACC all-Defensive team inclusions for 2009-2010—the only player in school history to achieve the feat.

He started in all but one of Wake Forest games during his school career.

Musong Castillo, Phil. Daily Inquirer