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Despite not having a first-round pick in last Sunday’s PBA Rookie Draft, Blackwater team owner Dioceldo Sy is very pleased with Bossing’s rookie picks as they continue their preparation for the 2021 season. .
The Bossing caught former Southwestern U big man Rey Mark Acuno and former La Salle guard Joshua Torralba with the 14th and 15th picks in the second round, before landing Andre Paras in the third round.
While Acuno can bring size to Blackwater and Torralba could provide energy and youth in the backcourt, Sy is elated by the fact that they got Paras, the eldest son of former PBA MVP Benjie Paras, in the draft.
“For me, Andre could be the biggest steal in this year’s draft. He’s a good rebounder and defender,” Sy told ESPN5 shortly after the annual rookie draft on Sunday.
The longtime sportsman and businessman believes that even if Paras is only 6-foot-4, he is capable of hitting bodies and can work well to form a bruised front court alongside newly acquired forward David Semerad.
Semerad landed at Blackwater following a three-team trade involving TNT and NLEX last week.
“You can definitely work hand in hand with Semerad,” Sy added.
Paras posted decent numbers during the 2019 PBA D-League Foundation Cup after averaging 7.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game while playing for AMA Online Education. He also dressed with the Imus team in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.
When asked if they had the players they wanted as they continued to rebuild, Sy answered affirmatively, “Yeah, they (the rookies recruited) are our targets.
The Bossing, led by Nash Racela, went into a writing frenzy from the second round as they also drafted Kim Bayquin and Jeson Delfinado in the subsequent rounds.
Still, Blackwater has a lot to catch up on after trading its three veteran gunners in Mark Belo, Don Trollano and Ron Sumang this offseason.
But Bossing can build the team around Baser Amer, the former Meralco Bolt star who they acquired in the Mac Belo trade, along with mainstay Mike Tolomia and Ed Daquioag.
