Terrafirma selects Munzon as top pick overall

The Terrafirma Dyip picked Filipino-American winger Joshua Munzon first overall in the virtual 46th Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Rookie Draft Sunday.

Munzon started turning heads when he suited up for the Saigon Heat and the Westports Malaysia Dragons in the Asean Basketball League.

The California State University, Los Angeles standout then stamped his class in the 2019 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup, dropping 35.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists for AMA Online Education.

Joshua Munzon (left) PHOTO FROM CHOOKS-TO-GO PILIPINAS FB PAGE

Munzon, who stands at 6-foot-4, then strutted his wares in the Chooks-to-Go 3×3 tourneys for the past couple of years and represented the Philippines in multiple international meets.

The 26-year-old cager eventually became the no.1 3×3 player in the country, and he is set to banner the Gilas 3×3 squad that will suit up in the Fiba 3×3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Graz, Austria in May.

At no. 2 overall, the NorthPort Batang Pier plucked also Fil-Am forward Jamie Malonzo.

Jamie Malonzo played for Portland State University in the US-NCAA Division 1 before suiting up as a one-and-done player for De La Salle University.

The 6-foot-6 Malonzo served notice in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 82 men’s basketball, averaging 15.8 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 steals as he made the UAAP Mythical Team.

For the third overall pick, the NLEX Road Warriors drafted Calvin Oftana.

Oftana went bonkers in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 95 men’s basketball, taking the MVP honors with his 15.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 blocks.

The 6-foot-5 Oftana won three championships with the San Beda University Red Lions, and also suited up for Gilas Pilipinas in the second window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers in Bahrain.

The TNT Tropang Giga then picked Fil-Am guard Mikey Williams at no. 4, as Rain or Shine drafted big man Santi Santillan at no.5.

The Alaska Aces picked a big man as well in Ben Adamos at no.6

Completing the first round are No. 7 Larry Muyang (Phoenix Fuel Masters), No. 8 James Laput (Terrafirma), No. 9 Alvin Pasaol (Meralco), No. 10 Jerrick Ahanmisi (Magnolia), No. 11 Troy Rike (NorthPort) and No. 12 Ken Holmqvist (Barangay Ginebra).

Teams are still selecting players in the Draft as of press time.

Meanwhile, Terrafirma selected Jordan Heading first overall in the special Gilas Draft, as NorthPort picked Will Navarro at no. 2.

The NLEX Road Warriors got Tzaddy Rangel at no. 3 and the TNT Tropang Giga rounded out the Gilas Draft by picking Jaydee Tungcab at no. 4.