But majority of the nine teams entitled to pick in the draft have hardly shown any interest in adding another player to their respective rosters.

Powerade earns the right to select first in the draft, but coach Bo Perasol said they’re not interested in acquiring another player so as to save space for the team’s salary cap.

“We might not pick in the draft because we’re very tight in terms of salary cap," said Perasol, whose squad was forced to unload Ren-Ren Ritualo from the free agent market, but took in burly slotman JR Quiñahan in a trade with Air21 to strengthen the team’s frontline.

After Powerade, Rain or Shine selects next, but fiery mentor Yeng Guiao stressed there’s no room for an additional player in his squad.

“Aside from the fact that we’re already loaded, it will save the squad from additional expenses. We’re pretty okay now, so I guess we might pass up on drafting another player," said Guiao in a telephone interview.

Air21’s team executives Johann Ramos and Allan Gregorio had mixed reactions regarding the draft. The Express are lined up to pick third in the draft, which was created after Barako Bull filed for a temporary leave of absence in the coming PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
We need a big man who can run, but I don’t see any of that from the players included in the draft.
– Jorge Gallent, Derby Ace coach

The Energy Boosters’ spot will be assumed by Smart Gilas, whose participation was given approval by the league’s team owners and board of governors in a rare meeting last month.

“We already have 14 players in our line-up," said Ramos, the team’s board governor."

Gregorio, the Express’ team manager, had other things in mind.

“I mentioned Marvin Cruz, pero mukhang mahirap pa because of our point guard rotation," said Gregorio, whose squad obtained combo guard Reed Juntila and signed free agent Lou Gatumbato to a contract extension. The team still has starting quarterback Wynne Arboleda.

Alaska is set to select fourth, but multi-titled bench tactician Tim Cone is not that excited to choose any of the players on the list.

The Barako Bull players who are in the 18-man dispersal pool are former all-star players Marlou Aquino and Lordy Tugade, Jojo Duncil, Rob Wainwright, Dennis Daa, Chad Alonzo, Richard Yee, Pong Escobal, Marvin Cruz, Ken Bono, Paolo Hubalde, Aris Dimaunahan, Mark Andaya, Christopher Canta, Bruce Viray, Jason Misolas and rookies Borgie Hermida and Khazim Mirza.

Aquino, Duncil, Wainwright, Yee, Viray, Canta and Misolas have contracts expiring until the end of February, while Hermida's and Tugade’s contracts will end July 31 of this year.

Hubalde, Alonzo, Dimaunahan, Bono, Cruz, Escobal, Mirza and Daa have live contracts until end of August 2011. If Barako Bull returns in the season-ending Governors Cup, players with existing contracts will return to the Energy Drinkers’ fold.

Players who will be picked up in the dispersal draft will play for their temporary squads for a period of three months.

“It doesn’t make any sense picking players from the dispersal draft," Cone told GMA News Online in a telephone interview. “Players don’t look attractive, and of course, the PBA won’t give a salary cap exception once you pick a player from the draft."

But PBA operations manager Rickie Santos explained that a player who will be picked up in the dispersal draft won't be counted in the team's salary cap.

"The additional player will be exempted from the salary cap computation, but teams will still have to follow the 14-man roster," said Santos in a text message.

After Alaska, Meralco and B-Meg Derby Ace are the next teams which will either pick or pass.

Bolts mentor Ryan Gregorio texted one word when asked who among the players his team will choose.

“None," said the three-time PBA champion coach, who resigned as coach of B-Meg to assume a more substantial role as mentor and head of basketball operations of Meralco this season.

Gregorio’s predecessor, Jorge Gallent of B-Meg Derby Ace, is also not keen on picking anybody from the draft.

“We need a big man who can run, but I don’t see any of that from the players included in the draft," said Gallent.

Barangay Ginebra takes its turn at No. 7, before runner-up San Miguel Beer and newly-crowned Philippine Cup champion Talk N’ Text round up the mid-season draft.

In his memorandum issued to the teams, PBA commissioner Chito Salud said the drafting team shall assume the contract of the drafted player for the second conference. He also said there shall be no contract re-negotiations except for those players whose contracts will expire before the end of the second conference.

Those with expired contracts become free agents, although Barako Bull still holds the right of first refusal.

Rey Joble, GMA News Online