Who’ll end up as the newest Gin King?

BARANGAY Ginebra just gate-crashed the PBA Season 49 draft.

Following the trade it consummated with Terrafirma on Saturday, the Kings obviously changed the dynamics of the July 14 proceedings as they moved up in the draft order and will pick at no. 3 in the stacked up rookie pool.

While Converge and Blackwater are both locked up at the first two draft picks, the rest of the teams picking according to the draft order will now depend on the player Ginebra will be picking at third overall.

Incidentally, trades whether players or draft picks are no longer allowed on draft day.

The Kings went all the way up from no. 10 to no. 3 after sending their pick along with Christian Standhardinger and Stanley Pringle to the Dyip for the coveted third overall selection and the pair of top rookie contender Stephen Holt and Isaac Go.

Clearly Ginebra is going after a player it felt would no longer be around when it gets its turn at no. 10 had the team didn’t move and made the trade

The Kings reportedly have their eyes set on three potential picks namely, Caelan Tiongson, Kai Ballungay, and RJ Abarrientos.

Tiongson has been part of the Barangay Ginebra 3×3 in the past, while Ballungay could fill in the frontcourt spot vacated by Standhardinger but need not be a ball dominant and disciplined enough to thrive under Cone’s Triangle Offense.

And Abarrientos?

He could be a dark horse pick for the Kings, whose backcourt rotation is loaded with the presence of Scottie Thompson, Maverick Ahanmisi, and the newly-acquired Holt.

Tiongson and Abarrientos are currently in Taipei as part of the Strong Group Athletics seeing action in the Jones Cup.

Ballungay, who a UAAP men’s basketball championship with Ateneo in 2023, attende the two-day Draft Combine.

Also by moving up in the draft, this will be the highest selection for the Kings since tabbing former MVP Scottie Thompson with the no. 5 pick in the 2015 draft.