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As expected, Burger King named Japeth Aguilar as the number one overall pick in yesterday's PBA Rookie Draft at the Fort's Market! Market! in Taguig City.
It was the first time in four years that a pure Filipino cager was chosen as number one overall pick in a Rookie Draft.
Kelly Williams of Sta. Lucia was named the number pick in 2006 draft, Alaska's Joe De Vance in 2007 and Gabe Norwood in 2008.
The last Filipino cager to be named as number one overall pick was Rich Alvarez (Shell) in 2005.
The 6-foot-9 Aguilar played two years with the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) before he suited for the Western Kentucky University in the US.
Aguilar is a member of the national team handled by Yeng Guiao, who is also the head coach of Burger King.
Picked next to Aguilar was 6-foot-5 Rico Maierhofer, who was snared by the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants.
Technically, Maeirhofer, a former La Salle stalwart, is a third pick overall since the second pick was owned by the disbanded Shell Turborchargers.
Since Shell is already out in the league, Purefoods picked next to Burger King.
Burger King made 6-foot-1 guard Chris Ross as the fourth pick and also chose Ronnie Matias as its ninth pick.
Jervy Cruz, a former UAAP MVP, went to Rain or Shine as the fifth pick, while 6-foot-5 Michael Burtscher was taken by the Alaska Aces as the sixth pick and ex-San Beda Red Lion Ogie Menor wen to Barako Bull as the seventh pick.
Barangay Ginebra got Chris Timberlake (9th) and San Miguel Beer took former Jose Rizal Heavy Bomber James Sena (10th).
Other rookies who were drafted were Mark Benitez (Sta. Lucia), Benedict Fernandez (Barako Bull), Edwin Asoro (Barako Bull), Francis Allera (Burger King), Marcy Arellano (Rain or Shine), Sean Co (Alaska), Charles Waters (Sta. Lucia), Orlando Daroya (Ginebra), Kevin Waters (Talk ?N Text), and PJ Walsham (Coca-Cola but traded to Burger King).
Draft day trades saw Burger King shipping Ross, Asoro and guard Marvin to Coca-Cola for Ronjay Buenafe.
Burger King also released Larry Rodriguez, whom it acquired from Barako Bull. Rodriguez eventually went to Coca-Cola.
Coke traded Nic Belasco to Talk 'N Text but his replacement hasn't been named yet.
Other developments include the return of Marc Pingris to the Giants. Pingris, along with Ken Bono and San Miguel's 2010 first round pick, initially went to the Whoppers in favor of Arwind Santos.
But Burger King shipped the hardworking Pingris to Purefoods in exchange for Purefoods' first and second round picks for 2010.
