Rain or Shine PBA rookie draft pick Felix Lametti. -Marlo Cueto/INQURER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Most of the players selected in the first round of the recent PBA rookie draft have names familiar to most basketball fans.
Felix Lametti and Awan Nava will have to put in some effort to gain recognition among casual PBA fans.
“I hope I can be a surprise part of the draft,” said Lametti, who was picked eighth by Rain or Shine last Sunday at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City.
READ: PBA Draft: Baltazar, Barefield and some first-round surprises
Little is known about Lametti, who was born in Sweden to a Swedish father and a Filipino mother who hails from Mindoro, except that he built his credentials playing in college in the United States.
Video that surfaced online shows that Lametti, who measured 6-foot-0 during last week’s draft combine, is adept at hitting outside shots.
Awan Nava, San Miguel Beermen's pick in the PBA rookie draft. -Marlo Cueto/Inquirer.net
But he managed to impress coach Yeng Guiao and Rain or Shine, who used their second pick to take Lametti after selecting Calan Tiongson at seventh.
“I saw some mock drafts and I didn’t think they would pick me,” Lametti said. “But I’m glad they did, and I’m excited to get to work.”
Nava was selected last in the first round by San Miguel Beer, which was impressed with his recent play abroad.
The Filipino-Canadian played for the Seoul Samsung Thunders in South Korea, where he faced compatriots who have taken advantage of the Korean Basketball League's Asian import allowance.
“I played against Ethan Alvano, Justin Gutang, Renz Abando and learned a lot from them,” Nava said.
Although Nava is thrilled to have been selected, he faces a challenge to find a place in the Beermen squad, which is loaded from top to bottom.
And Nava also accepts this.
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“I know they've been winning championships over the years so I'll try to learn a lot,” Nava said.
