Unknown draft pick hopes for spring surprise

MANILA, Philippines – Most of the players selected in the first round of the recent PBA Rookie Draft are names familiar to most basketball fans.

Felix Remetti and Avang Nava will have to work some hard to become recognized by the general PBA fanbase.

“I hope I can be a surprise in the draft,” said Remetti, who was selected eighth overall by Rain or Shine last Sunday at the Glorietta Activities Center in Makati City.

Read: PBA Draft: Baltazar, Barefield and some first-round surprises

Born in Sweden to a Swedish father and a Filipina mother from Mindoro, little is known about Remetti beyond his accomplishments while playing at a collegiate level in the United States.

Videos circulating online show that Remetti, who was measured at 6-foot-0 at last week’s draft combine, has a knack for making outside shots.

Abang Nava, selected by the San Miguel Beermen in the PBA Rookie Draft. – MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

But he was able to impress head coach Yen Guiao and Rain or Shine, who used another pick to acquire Remetti after selecting Kelan Tiongson with the seventh overall pick.

“I watched a few mock drafts and didn’t think I’d be selected,” Remetti said, “but I’m really happy that I was selected and I’m excited to get to work.”

Nava was selected as the final pick of the first round by the San Miguel Beer, who had been impressed with his recent performances overseas.

The Filipino-Canadian played for the Seoul Samsung Thunders in South Korea, competing against his compatriots who took advantage of the Korean Basketball League’s Asian player import quota.

“I played against Ethan Albano, Justin Guttan and Lenz Abando and learned a lot from them,” Nava said.

Nava is ecstatic to have been selected, but faces the daunting task of cracking a Beermen roster that is loaded from top to bottom.

And Nava acknowledges that.

“I know they’ve been winning for years, so I’m going to learn a lot,” Nava said.