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2007 PBA DRAFT
August 18, 2007 @ Market! Market! (Taguig)

Welcoat wanted a do-all, go-to guy as it opted for Fil-Am Joe Devance over homegrown 6-9 Samigue Eman as the No. 1 pick overall in the 2007 PBA Rookie Draft at the Market! Market! Mall in Taguig. “After a long, thorough discussion and deliberation, we decided to go for the more complete package who can play on both ends of the court. We think it’s the popular, right and logical choice,” said coach Leo Austria after his team bestowed top pick honors on Devance. With Devance, Austria thought they’ve gotten a player who can well help them in their bid to improve their forgettable finishes last season. The team management also had high hopes on Devance that co-team owners Terry Que and Raymund Yu readily declared they would make things easy for the Fil-Am behemoth, offering him right away the maximum pay in his first three years in the league. That would be no less than P7 million.

“For sure, we will improve with the addition of Devance. We’ll be more competitive than last season pero malabo pa rin ang championship,” said Austria.

Austria hinted picking Devance in the first round and Ryan Araña in the second round was the start of its rebuilding plan. He said they may close trade deals in the coming days.

Devance, a former University of Texas at El Paso mainstay, said he’s happy to finally make it to the local pro league and he’s looking forward to helping Welcoat achieve its aspirations.

“It’s not about Joe Devance, it’s about Welcoat. I’m not worried about my individual performance. I’m thinking of the team,” said Devance, accompanied in the draft exercise by his Filipina mother Mae Sanz Devance, a native of Escalante, Negros Occidental.

Devance thus joined Andy Seigle, Jay Washington and Kelly Williams as the only Fil-Ams selected number 1 overall in the draft. He actually barely made it to the draft pool when the league board gave him an extension to submit required the much needed documents.

San Miguel settled for Eman at No. 2 and got Jonas Villanueva at No. 9. Sta. Lucia selected Ryan Reyes at No. 3, Air21 picked JC Intal, Doug Kramer and Yousif Aljamal at Nos. 4, 5 and 8, Alaska got Ken Bono and JR Quinahan at Nos. 6 and 7, and Barangay Ginebra chose Macky Escalona at No. 10.

In the second round, Ronjay Buenafe went to Coca-Cola, Araña to Welcoat, Melvin Mamaclay to Sta. Lucia, Marvin Cruz and JR Masbang to Air21, Jojo Duncil to Red Bull and Ardy Larong to Alaska.

Red Bull waived two other draft rights in the second round and Talk n Text one. Thus, only 17 out of 44 players were picked in the 2007 draft exercise sponsored by Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs and backed by Accel and Goldilocks.

Eman said joining the Beermen is a dream come true for him and his father Fernando who used to work with San Miguel in Davao.

“My name Samigue derived from San Miguel. I’m sure my father is so happy and proud right now,” said Eman, the tallest among the hopefuls at 6-foot-8.

Sta. Lucia, meanwhile, has gotten another blue-chip guard in Reyes after dealing Alex Cabagnot to Coca-Cola last campaign.

FIRST ROUND

1. Welcoat - Joe Devance (University of Texas-El Paso)
2. San Miguel - Samigue Eman (University of Mindanao)
3. Sta Lucia - Ryan Reyes (Cerritos College)
4. Air 21 - JC Intal (Ateneo)
5. Air 21 (via Purefoods) - Doug Kramer (Ateneo)
6. Alaska - Ken Bono (Adamson University)
7. Alaska (via Red Bull) - JR Quinahan (University of the Visayas)
8. Air 21 (via Talk N Text) - Yousif Aljamal (San Beda)
9. San Miguel - Jonas Villanueva (Far Eastern University)
10. Brgy. Ginebra - Macky Escalona (Ateneo)

SECOND ROUND

11. Coca-Cola - Ronjay Buenafe (Emilio Aguinaldo)
12. Welcoat - Ryan Arana (De La Salle University)
13. Sta Lucia - Melvin Mamaclay (Adamson University)
14. Air 21 - Marvin Cruz (University of the Philippines)
15. Redbull (via Purefoods) - Jojo Duncil (University of Santo Tomas)
16. Alaska - Ardy Larong (University of San Jose-Recoletos)
17. Air 21 (via Red Bull) - RJ Masbang (University of the East)

NOT SELECTED

Joel Solis (Philippine Christian)
Joferson Gonzales (Mapua Institute of Technology)
Jeff Bombeo (San Beda)
Edilgusto Soriano (San Beda)
Khiel Misa (Perpetual Help)
Chico Manabat (National University)
Chris Baluyot (San Beda)
Ronnie Zagala (Far Eastern University/PSBA)
Francis Barcellano (Far Eastern University)
Elbert Alberto (University of Assumption, Pampanga)
Jose Aquino (De La Salle University)
Alex Angeles (San Beda)
Reed Juntilla (University of the Visayas)
Frederick Hubalde (University of Santo Tomas)
Ramil Tagupa (Adamson)
Wynsjohn Te (Jose Rizal)
Mark Legarde (San Sebastian College / Far East Asia Technical Institute)
Gilbert Neo (National University)
James Zablan (Far Eastern)
Roberto Rivera
Kenneth Co Yu Kang (Chiang Kai Shek/Jose Rizal College)
Rolly Menor (College of St. Benilde)
Tristan Veranga (Mapua Institute of Technology)
Daryl Pepito (St. Edward's, Australia)
Donald Tadena (Holy Cross Davao / Rizal Tech)
Dominador Javier (Perpetual Help)
Mark Moreno (West Negros University)

WITHDREW/SCRATCHED FROM POOL FOR FAILURE TO SUBMIT REQUIREMENTS

Jeff Chan (Far Eastern University)
Godofredo Cuevas (National University)
Junjun Molina