Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 14) — Joshua Munzon was selected as the first overall pick by the Terrafirma Dyip in the 46th season PBA Rookie Draft held in a virtual ceremony Sunday.
The 26-year-old was the Dyip’s third consecutive number one pick of the ballclub following CJ Perez and Roosevelt Adams.
Munzon — who made a name for himself in the ASEAN Basketball League, PBA D-League, and 3×3 basketball circuit — is expected to take over the franchise player role Perez left after the latter was traded to the San Miguel Beermen last month.
The NorthPort Batang Pier, meanwhile, chose former La Salle high-flyer Jamie Malonzo with the number two pick.
On the other hand, the NLEX Road Warriors got Calvin Oftana from the San Beda program with the third pick.
Ahead of the regular draft, the special Gilas Pilipinas draft kicked off the proceedings with Terrafirma, NorthPort, NLEX and TNT taking Jordan Heading, William Navarro, Tzaddy Rangel and Jaydee Tungcab, respectively.
Here’s the list of all the drafted players:
Special Gilas Pilipinas round
Jordan Heading – Terrafirma
William Navarro – NorthPort
Tzaddy Rangel – NLEX
Jaydee Tungcab – TNT
First round
1. Joshua Munzon – Terrafirma
2. Jamie Malonzo – NorthPort
3. Calvin Oftana – NLEX
4. Mikey Williams – TNT
5. Santi Santillan – ROS
6. Benedict Adamos – Alaska
7. Larry Muyang – Phoenix
8. James Laput – Terrafirma
9. Alvin Pasaol – Meralco
10. Jerrick Ahanmisi – Magnolia
11. Troy Rike – NorthPort
12. Ken Holmqvist – Ginebra
Second round
1. Brian Enriquez – Ginebra
2. Rey Mark Acuno – Blackwater
3. Joshua Torralba – Blackwater
4. Taylor Browne – Alaska
5. Franky Johnson – ROS
6. Nicholas Demusis – Phoenix
7. Aljun Melecio – Phoenix
8. Dave Murrell – NLEX
9. Alec Stockton – Alaska
10. Anton Asistio – ROS
11. Andrei Caracut – ROS
12. Mark Olayon – NorthPort
Third round
1. Dhon Reverente – Terrafirma
2. Loren Brill – NorthPort
3. Andre Paras – Blackwater
4. Antonio Bonsubre – NLEX
5. Kenneth Mocon – ROS
6. Ronnie De Leon – Magnolia
7. RK Ilagan – Alaska
8. Allen Enriquez – San Miguel
9. John Yasa – Meralco
10. Reymar Caduyac – Phoenix
11. Michael Simmonds – TNT
Fourth round
Michael Javelosa – Terrafirma
Marvin Moraga – NorthPort
Jun Manzo – Blackwater
Jose Presbitero – NLEX
RJ Argamino – ROS
Andrew Estrella – Magnolia
Mohammad Salim – San Miguel
Luis Brill – Meralco
Max Henstchel – Phoenix
Joel Lee Yu – TNT
Fifth round
Immanuel Custodio – Terrafirma
Carl Bryan Ravanes – NorthPort
Kim Bayquin – Blackwater
Joseph Alcantara – NLEX
Philip Manalang – ROS
Greg Flor – San Miguel
Jerie Pingoy – Phoenix
MJ Gozum – TNT
Sixth round
Terrence Tumalip – Terrafirma
Seraj Elmejrab – NorthPort
Jeson Delfinado – Blackwater
Alberto Torres – NLEX
Jeffrey Manday – San Miguel
Seventh round
Jonico Rosales – NorthPort
Luis Antonio Abaca – San Miguel
Eighth round
Jonathan Mendoza – NorthPort
Despite Terrafirma ranking last in the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup, the 26-year-old cager is optimistic that the team’s on-court performance will pick up in the next conferences.
“I am definitely excited to get in there, to get to work and see what we’re capable of. Maybe things weren’t so positive last year, but definitely ready to go in there and be positive this year,” he told CNN Philippines on Monday. “Terrafirma fans can expect us to come out and play hard and work hard, and give everything we have.”
