Express secure top 3 picks, but surprisingly lose Mamaril

Air21 has made great investments in securing the top three rookie picks in the coming PBA Draft next week at the Market! Market in Taguig. On Sunday, August 29, the Express will have their historic moment. Air21 became the first team to secure the rights on Nos. 1, 2 and 3 picks in the Rookie Draft since it was instituted in 1985. But coach Yeng Guiao wasn’t amused. He is more surprised to learn that he lost two of his best frontliners in the Express – Billy Mamaril and Beau Belga. “It’s good to have the top three picks in the draft because it’s an investment and this will be a historic moment," Guiao told GMANews.TV in a telephone interview. “But I was surprised to learn that Billy Mamaril is no longer part of our team because of a previous commitment with another squad. I’m all set in having both Belga and Mamaril in our lineup, but now, they’re gone." Belga was traded to Meralco, the newest team in the PBA. He was part of the three-team, three-player trade that also included JR Quiñahan and Ali Peek. The Express were able to obtain the rights on Quiñahan from that trade while Peek went back to the Tropang Texters. The Express lost another frontliner, Doug Kramer, during the latter stretch of the Fiesta Cup won by Alaska over San Miguel Beer, when they agreed on a trade with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters for the services of guard Marcy Arellano. Air21 was also involved in a separate trade where it got the No.3 pick in the coming draft plus Josh Urbiztondo from the Mac Mac Cardona trade. Cardona was sent to Meralco to become its new franchise player, while Talk N Text got the No.4 pick previously held by Air21. The Express did end up as the winner in player exchanges, except only when they lost Mamaril, reportedly headed to Ginebra. “I’m surprised that we lost Mamaril and that’s a downside for us. We lost Belga, a frontliner who can run. Now, we’re stuck on having Carlo Sharma and Quinahan, but both of them are mere post up players. We need a big man who can run." Guiao is expected to make former Ateneo stalwarts Rabeh Al-Hussaini, half brother of Sharma, and Nonoy Baclao as the No.1 and No.2 picks, respectively. “Yes, we will pick them both, but Al-Hussaini plays the same role as Quinahan and Sharma. He can post up, but he’s not a running big man." said Guiao. “Baclao may be the only big man who can run for our team. We need to get a rookie frontliner who can run in the coming draft and he might be our No.3 pick." - GMANews.TV