Kia selects former Ateneo player De Chavez as "first pick" as all draftees get selected

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--After giving up the first overall pick in a trade on Friday, Kia is without a first and second round pick entering Sunday's PBA Draft.

When it was its turn to pick in the draft, the team took a potential sleeper.

The Picanto made Chris DeChavez their first pick for the said draft to kick off the third round of the said selection process at the Robinson's Place Atrium here.

DeChavez played for Ateneo in 2010 but returned to the United States shortly afterward, only going back to the Philippines last year to play for Wang's in the PBA D-League.

Meanwhile, very notables players who some various mock drafts even tipped to be in the first round found themselves getting drafted in the third round.

Gab Dagangon was selected second in Round 3 and 26th overall by NLEX, while Phoenix used its 28th overall pick on Dan Sara.

GlobalPort took Zach Nicholls for its third round selection, while Meralco, who like Kia only entered the draft in Round 3, took in former NCAA Slam Dunk champion Jebb Bulawan.

Thomas Torres, arguably the most prolific player among those who were still available after Round 2, found himself joining his former La Salle coach Juno Sauler at Star with the club's third round pick used on him.

TNT selected Dave Moralde with its own third round pick, while Mikey Cabahug, the son of PBA legend Elmer, was drafted by Ginebra.

On the other hand, Biboy Enguio became the first Indonesian national team player to be drafted in the PBA as Blackwater used its third round pick on him.

Capping Round 3 was the selection of Michael Juico by Rain Or Shine and Jerome Ortega by San Miguel.

All the 43 draft applicants who were present at the draft proper were actually selected as Arvie Bringas (Kia), Felix Apreku (NLEX), Kyle Neypes (Blackwater), JK Casiño (Phoenix), GIan Abrigo (GlobalPort), and Joseph Nalos (SMB) were tapped in Round 4 even as Christian Geronimo (Kia) and JR Sumido (Blackwater) were taken in Round 5.

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