More than their respective talents, head coach Chris Gavina spent the Rain or Shine's second round picks on Franky Johnson, Anton Asistio and Andrei Caracut for their commendable character.
The Elasto Painters selected the Fil-Am combo guard Johnson as the No. 17 overall pick before taking two steady backcourt players in Asistio and Caracut at No. 22 and No. 23, respectively, in the 2021 PBA Rookie Draft held last Sunday, March 14.
"Acquiring Johnson, Asistio and Caracut in the second round gives us three players that we feel all embrace a mindset where they will have fun in accomplishing things that no one else thought they could," the 42-year-old Gavina told Bulletin-Tempo in an online message on Tuesday, March 16.
"We look at these players as being captain class players who not only possess the talent to succeed at the PBA level but also display a great deal of character and grit when needed," added the newly-promoted head coach.
Johnson was a household name in the Chooks to Go Pilipinas and international 3x3 basketball tournaments.
The 27-year-old guard also served as one of the top guns for AMA along with top overall pick Joshua Munzon in the PBA D-League.
A three-point deadshot, Asistio proved to be a solid piece in Ateneo's backourt during the first two title runs in its recent UAAP three-peat.
The 25-year-old sniper then honed his craft with Marinerong Pilipino in the D-League, Bataan and Zamboanga in the MPBL, and Bacolod in the Chooks 3x3 circuit before making his jump to the pro ranks.
For his part, the 25-year-old Caracut is a prime example of a cerebral point guard. The 2015 UAAP Rookie of the Year helped La Salle win its last championship in 2016 and spent all his five collegiate years with the Green Archers before taking his act to Alab Pilipinas in the ABL.
Gavina is excited to see what these three rookies could do for the Raymond Yu and Terry Que-owned franchise which will seek to capture its first crown since the 2016 Commissioner's Cup in the upcoming 46th PBA season.
"Our culture is based on our players being poised under pressure and these three guards have all displayed that core value at one point in their career," he said.