ASIDE from Geo Chiu and Juan Gómez de Liaño, the first and second picks overall in the annual PBA rookie Draft last Sunday, No. 3 selection and Fil-Italian playmaker Dalph Panopio has also come home.
Joining the Bossing of coach Jeff Cariaso, who has a slew of former No. 2 picks in Christian David (2023) and Sedrick Barefield last year, Panopio is convinced his addition will only work wonders for the team.
“They had top picks before and now, you know, being, like, another new upcoming rookie, I mean, I hope and I’ll try my best to help the team and grow and develop. Having so much talent like Christian David and Sedrick Barefield, I’m really excited to play with them,” Panopio said. “Definitely, the main goal is to win. From the day I had the tryout, I was already, like, really connected to the team.
“Somehow, his system really helped me just from a tryout to, like, be, you know, smooth, it was like it wasn’t having a practice. It was more like I was having fun,” he added.
The 6-foot-1 Panopio is not entirely new to true-blue Filipino cage fans, having suited up for Gilas Pilipinas Youth previously. Playing for Blackwater should be a welcome start to the pro league stint of Panopio, the boyfriend of national team obstacle course standout Kaizen Dela Serna.
“I was enjoying practices also. So, it’s something that I’m happy about. I’m really excited, it’s something that I feel like it’s important because you want to go to practice that you’re happy,” Panopio said.
“I was just really happy because I feel like I can really fit the system. I feel the connection. Not just with the coach, but also with my teammates. My teammates are great people and great players.”
He described his new squad as a talent-laden crew that is raring to make a mark in the season-opening Philippine Cup.
“A talented group of guys. They were there at my tryout. They were trying to help me,” he said. “They were trying to push me. So, being selected by Blackwater is really great.”
