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2002 PBA DRAFT
January 13, 2002 @ Glorietta Activity Center (Makati City)

He would have easily been the third pick of the 2002 PBA Draft if the two biggest stars of the other professional league had qualified for the pool. But as fate would have it, the distinction of of being the top pick this year was reserved for the very promising Yancy de Ocampo, a 6-8 slotman who had in the past three seasons stamped his class in the amateur scene. Bert Lina, owner of the newest franchise in the league, FedEx AirFreight 2100 was trying to make an ans in the analogy between his company and his top draftee but somehow just couldn't put it together when commissioner Emilio P. Bernardino, Jr. asked him to name the number one pick.

Said Lina, "As you all know FedEx is the biggest transport company in the world and so we pick Yancy de Ocampo." He was probably trying to say that as big as FedEx is worldwide, the new franchise was tapping the best big man in the field and there was no question that description fits de Ocampo perfectly.

De Ocampo, a product of the St. Francis of Assisi College, has metamorphosed from backup to former teammate Don Carlos Allado into a starter and probably the main reason why Welcoat Paints has won four of the five championships in the PBL.

Of course, the other reason Welcoat has been so dominant in the premier amateur league of the land is Yancy's shooting partner Florendo Ritualo Jr., and boy, de Ocampo and Ritualo will once again join forces at FedEx.

That's because, as if destined, FedEx succeeded in making Ritualo the eight overall pick of the draft after five other ballclubs passed up picking probably the best shooter among the pro hopefuls. Renren as he is called, is a second generation PBA player. His father, Florendo Ritualo Sr. being one of the pioneers of the league who have played for Consolidated Foods Corporation franchise.

Ritualo completed the years with the De La Salle Green Archers and led his team to four championships in the UAAP in that span.

Six of the top ten picks of the draft came from the PBL while four came from the Metropolitan Basketball Association. After de Ocampo was snared by FedEx, three players from the defunct Andok's San Juan Knights were selected in succession with Coca-cola going for the next big man in Fil-American Rafi Reavis, Sta. Lucia tapping Omanzie Rodriguez and Shell Velocity taking in Chris Calaguio. A fourth MBA stalwart, Homer Se of the Cebu Gems was picked fifth overall by Batang Red Bull.

Reavis may not be a dominant big man but for his 6-8 frame, he has the makings of an unstoppable slasher and that is what Coca-Cola coach Chot Reyes is hoping he'd turn out to be. His San Juan teammate Rodriguez, is the MBA's version of the Human Eraser. The former MIT slotman will definitely shore up the Realtors' already imposing frontline.

Calaguio was the first non-big man to be selected as Shell Velocity coach Perry Ronquillo put premium on outside shooting in preparation for blasting the zone defense which is now allowed in the league this year. A former Letran College Knight, Calaguio was wooed by several PBA teams in 1999 but he instead chose to bring act to MBA saying he needed to polish his skills more.

Se, a former San Sebastian College Stag, could have moved over to the PBA last year as the Gems were willing to release him despite his having a year left in his contract. But Se wanted to play for the Philippine team which eventually retained the championship in the South East Asian Games.

After the four MBA stars came five players from the PBL, Ritualo included. Picked sixth overall by Alaska Milk was Fil-American Miguel Noble, a standout from Utica College. Alaska, which has two second round picks, did not exercise his rights the rest of the way and coach Tim cone later explains the Uytengsu franchise "only picks the player known as the "Elevator", is the heart and soul of the Shark Energy Drink.

Closing out the first round, Coca-Cola got Leonides Avenido, the go-to-guy of Far Eastern University in the UAAP. The Coca-Cola Tigers actually inherited the tenth pick overall from San Miguel Beer coming from a trade that featured Nic Belasco three years ago.

Utilizing a draft right acquired from Tanduay, Coca-Cola took 6-7 Montana Pawnshop slotman Gilbert Lao at No. 11. Lao is a product of the University of Sto. Tomas. In all, Coca-Cola had five picks the others being rugged Welcoat Paints gunner Jojo Manalo and defense specialist Jason Misolas.


FIRST ROUND

1) FedEx - Yancy de Ocampo (St. Francis of Assisi)
2) Coca-Cola - Rafi Reavis (Coppin State)
3) Sta. Lucia - Omanzie Rodriguez (Mapua)
4) Shell - Chris Calaguio (Letran)
5) Red Bull - Homer Se (San Sebastian)
6) Alaska - Migs Noble (Utica College)
7) Shell - Eric Canlas (St. Francis of Assisi)
8) FedEx - Ren-Ren Ritualo (De La Salle University)
9) Brgy. Ginebra - Chester Tolomia (Perpetual Help)
10) Coca-Cola - Leo Avenido (Far Eastern University)

SECOND ROUND

11) Coca-Cola - Gilbert Lao (University Santo Tomas)
12) Talk N Text - Christian Nicdao (Far Eastern University)
13) Sta. Lucia - Chito Victolero (Mapua Institute of Technology)
14) Shell - Rainier Sison (Ateneo de Manila)
15) Shell - Edwin Bacani (Far Eastern University)
16) Brgy. Ginebra - Gilbert Malabanan (Perpetual Help)
17) Coca-Cola - Jojo Manalo (Perpetual Help)
18) San Miguel - Alvin Castro (De La Salle University)

THIRD ROUND

19) Talk N Text - Celino Cruz (Far Eastern University)
20) Purefoods - Junel Mendiola (PSBA)
21) Sta. Lucia - Brandon Sison (Ateneo de Manila)
22) Purefoods - Dexter Racho (University of the Philippines)
23) Red Bull - Wille Mejia
24) Shell - Rensy Bajar (San Beda)
25) Coca-Cola - Jason Misolas (Letran)
26) Brgy. Ginebra - Aries Dimaunahan (University of Santo Tomas)

FOURTH ROUND

27) FedEx - John Victorio
28) Talk N Text - Danilo Capobres (Lyceum)
29) Shell - Richard de la Peña
30) Purefoods - Billy Moody (Letran)
31) Red Bull - Arnel Mañalac (Perpetual Help)
32) Shell - Richard Melencio (University of Santo Tomas)

FIFTH ROUND

33) Talk N Text - Francis Sanz (Philippine Christian)
34) FedEx - Jerome Barbosa (San Sebastian)
35) Purefoods - Eugene Tan (University of Manila)
36) Red Bull - Kenneth Gumpenberger (University of the Philippines)
37) FedEx - Edrick Ferrer (University of the Philippines)

SIXTH ROUND

38) FedEx - Francis Aquino
39) Talk N Text - Jacquess Gottenbos

SEVENTH ROUND

40) FedEx - Paolo Malonzo (De La Salle University)

NOT SELECTED

Jerrick Allen
Richard Hardine
Vincent Silo
Jojo Manalo
Jason Hickey
Robert Johnson
Paolo Roldan
Irvindo Hufano
Nathaniel Gonzales
Elwyn Luyun
Orlando Eparwa
Sunny Margate
Clifton Claybrooks
Fortunate Payne
John Flores
Philip Newton
Kerwin Chua
Stephen Campus
Francis Machica
William Villa
Mare Caguco
Chris de Jesus
Sonny Manucat
Bernard de Guia
Danny Mosley
Dennis Reyes
Albert Paz
Allan Acosta
Art Agustin
Francis Rauschmayer
Tom Arceno
Leodito Yanogacio
Kalani Ferreria
Kenneth Ferreria
Joven Mampo
Richard Melencio
Julius David