MANILA, Philippines — Terrafirma put priority on size as it selected former Ateneo big man Geo Chiu as the top overall pick for the PBA Season 50 Rookie Draft on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena Music Hall.
The Dyip’s decision to select the 6-foot-9 Chiu may have come as a surprise considering that highly-touted guards Juan Gomez De Liano, Dalph Panopio and Jason Brickman, along with former NCAA Most Valuable Player Will Gozum were also high in the list.
Chiu played recently for the Taiwan Mustangs in The Asian Tournament, and currently sees action for Abra in the MPBL.
But the incoming rookie big man is known more for his backup role in his basketball career.
Nonetheless, Chiu became the second straight big man to emerge as the no.1 rookie pick, following Justine Baltazar, who was selected top pick by Converge in last year’s draft.
Gomez De Liano came in as the second pick by Converge, which secured the draft spot from Phoenix following a recent trade.
The Fuel Masters swapped their no. 2 pick to the FiberXers in exchange for Brian Santos and their eighth pick in Sunday’s draft.
Blackwater chose former Batang Gilas guard Dalph Panopio at third overall, in what is expected to be dynanic backcourt tandem with Sedric Barefield.
Barefield was the Bossing’s no. 2 pick in last year’s draft.
NorthPort took another formet Ateneo product in Chris Koon at fourth pick, followed by ex-Far Eastern U standout LJay Gonzales, who was selected by NLEX at fifth while Magnolia drafted Yukien Andrada.
Highly-touted Filipino-American guard Jason Brickman went all the way down to no. 7 in the first round, one that easily benefited Meralco.
The entry of the 33-year-old Brican gives the Bolts an experienced playmaker, who has spent his pro basketball career overseas.
The former Long Island U standout played in Germany and Russia, before spending majority of his career in Asia, winning a championship in the ASEAN Basketball League in 2016, along with a title later in Taiwan’s T1 league in 2022.
The opening round closed with Phoenix nabbing Gozum at eighth overall, followef by Chris Miller who went to the San Miguel Beermen (ninth), Christian Manaytay (Rain or Shine, 10th), Sonny Estil, the PBA Draft Combine MVP (Ginebra, 11th) and Arthur Roque (ROS, 12th pick).
