Chris Tiu considering to join PBA Draft

Source : Reynaldo Belen Interaktv
Chris Tiu as the Powerade Tigers’ top pick in this year’s PBA Rookie Draft?

Chris Tiu

The charismatic captain of the SMART-Gilas Pilipinas national team was spotted having coffee with Powerade executive JB Baylon at Sentro 1771 this weekend.
Baylon was coy about details of their conversation, but he said Tiu, perhaps the most popular Filipino basketball outside the PBA today, hasn’t decided yet whether to turn pro.
“We just had coffee,” Baylon said, although he admitted that they did discuss whether Tiu will the draft. “Your guess is as good as mine.”
“Chris is committed to playing for flag and country so the national team is his priority,” added Baylon. “But he will weigh all his options and decide in due course.”
InterAKTV tried to reach Tiu for comment, but a close associate of the cager confirmed that he hasn’t decided yet whether to turn pro.
Apart from joining the PBA, Tiu has plenty of other options. He has a fledgling career as a television host and a commercial model, while his family has various business interests which include hotels and magazine publications. He has also indicated an interest in public office, having served as Sangguniang Kabataan chairman in Urdaneta Village in Makati City.
Aside from Tiu, Baylon said Powerade is looking at other propsects in the draft, includidng other SMART-Gilas stalwarts Jayvee Casio and Chris Lutz, and hotshot guard James Martinez, who suited up for the Jr. Powerade Tigers in the PBA Developmental League.
The Tigers are guaranteed two of the top three picks in the upcoming draft, as well as two more choices in the second round. The first overall pick will be decided after a lottery between Powerade and Air 21.
Earlier, Lutz and fellow Filipino-American guard Marcio Lassiter officially entered the PBA draft.
Tiu and the rest of the SMART-Gilas squad, meanwhile, have less than three weeks to decide whether to join this year’s batch of PBA newcomers.
Like Tiu, Casio and Dylan Ababou are still contemplating joining this year’s draft.
“We’re still checking our options,” said Charlie Dy, the manager of both Casio and Ababou.
Casio is the starting point guard of SMART-Gilas. National team coach Rajko Toroman is convinced that the former La Salle sniper is one of the best backcourt generals in the continent.
Ababou, a backup swingman for SMART-Gilas, was the Most Valuable Player of the UAAP in 2009.