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By Ivan Saldajeno
MANILA--As expected, Jeron Teng was taken first overall in the 2016 PBA D-League Draft at the PBA Cafe in Pasig on Tuesday.
AMA, which owns the right to the first pick, wasted no time in going for the 6-foot-2 guard-forward from recently crowned UAAP champion La Salle as its first round selection.
However, a huge shakeup to the rest of the first round saw the cinch for the second pick, Jason Brickman, slipping out of the said round and even in some latter rounds.
Tanduay, who appeared to have a huge shot at taking Brickman in at second, opted to choose Jom Sollano from 2015 NCAA champion Letran instead.
Racal, Wang's, and Batangas, the three other teams eligible to take Brickman in the first round, also passed up on him and instead drafted CDSL's Jon-Jon Gabriel, Ateneo's GBoy Babilonia, and Wilmar Anderson respectively.
Brickman would still end up with the Rhum Masters but as their fourth round selection or after they earlier went for FEU's Monbert Arong (second round) and UE's Paul Varilla (third round).
As per a league rule, school-based teams Cafe France-CEU, returning San Beda, now under the Cignal brand, and newcomer Victoria-MLQU, had to first choose their own players.
The Bakers, already with five Scorpions playing for the Aspirants Cup that will begin on Jan. 19, took three more from their UCBL champion squad in Patrick Aquino, Wishaan Veron, and Orlan Wamar.
However, Cafe France, to be coached anew by current San Sebastian mentor Egay Macaraya, added some Golden Stags to the team by taking Alvin Capobres, Allyn Bulanadi, and Justine Mercado.
Returning Red Lions coach Boyet Fernandez, as part of their early preparation for their NCAA title defense, brought eight players from their squad last season, namely Davon Potts, Robert Bolick, AC Soberano, Calvin Oftana, JB Bahio, Jomari Presbitero, Kenneth Alas, and Kyle Carlos while bringing in Krenz Carlos as well.
The Stallions also took eight players from their NAASCU side before adding four more from other schools, including CSB's Yankie Haruna and UST's Marvin Lee.
The other school-based squad, JRU, opted to bring its entire roster to the D-League, effectively passing from the draft, the same with the lone international team this season, Malaysia, to once again represent Blu instead of its major ABL sponsor Westports.
Batangas would get its wish of having an all-Batangueño lineup as the team took 18 Batangas-born ballers in the draft.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
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