CJ ROSARIO looms as the top overall pick in Friday’s draft after an impressive performance in the first Philippine Superliga (PSL) Draft Camp on Tuesday at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Rosario, a former National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Most Valuable Player out of Arellano University, stood out from among the 19 aspirants during the drills and scrimmage against the PSL All-Stars which saw action in the Thai-Denmark Super League in March.
Besides the drills and scrimmage, the aspirants also underwent anthropometric measurements.
Another big name, former University Athletic Association of the Philippines Most Valuable Player Ara Galang, showed up but she remains doubtful about joining the draft. She still has to iron out certain details on her eligibility.
Other notables were Mary Grace Berte of Holy Cross of Davao; Shirley Salamagos, Danna Henson and Angel Legacion of Arellano University; Asi Soliven of National University; and Marlyn Llagoso and Jerra Mae Pacino of Southwestern University in Cebu.
But the spotlight belonged to Rosario.
“I think she’s ready for the big league,” said camp director Sammy Acaylar of Cignal referring to the 6-foot-1 Rosario, whose older brother, Troy, is a top rookie at Tropang TNT in the Philippine Basketball Association.
“She’s the consensus top overall pick. Everybody wants to draft her. Personally, I also want her for my team. But I will be picking sixth pa so medyo Malabo,” Acaylar added. “Whoever drafts her will be very lucky. She’s the middle blocker of the future.”
Rosario said she is tempering her expectations, knowing that coaches and team executives would be critical of their choices.
“Hindi naman ako nag-e-expect kasi mahirap masaktan,” said the 21-year-old middle blocker from Cagayan, who suited up for Petron in the pre-season.
Aside from Acaylar, also present during the workout were Kungfu Reyes of RC Cola-Army, George Pascua of Petron, Francis Vicente of Generika, Ramil de Jesus of F2 Logistics, Nene Ybanez of Standard Insurance-Navy, Ken Moleno of Perpetual and Don Dulay of Foton.
The Lady Troopers will be picking first followed by Generika, Perpetual, Standard Insurance-Navy, F2 Logistics, Cignal, Petron and Foton.