Terrafirma taps Jordan Heading as top pick in special Gilas draft

Jordan Heading was selected first overall by Terrafirma in a special round for new members of the Gilas Pilipinas pool during the PBA Rookie Draft held Sunday, March 14.
The Dyip went with Heading, the 25-year-old Fil-Australian forward who had stints with the national team in the 2011 FIBA Asia U-16 Championship and San Miguel Alab Pilipinas in last season’s ASEAN Basketball League.
NorthPort used the second pick of the round to select Will Navarro, the young big man who blossomed into one of the integral figures of Ateneo’s UAAP title runs under Gilas program director Tab Baldwin.
Navarro was supposed to take part in the regular draft but was convinced by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas to join the special Gilas round instead.
NLEX took ex-National University and Alab big man Tzaddy Rangel at No. 3 before TNT wrapped up the special proceedings by getting former University of the Philippines guard Jaydee Tungcab.
Heading, Navarro, Rangel and Tungcab were the only players from a list of 86 applicants who joined the Gilas pool for future international tournaments.
The teams that selected the four players will hold their rights while they are on Gilas duties.
It is the same arrangement made in 2019 when Isaac Go, Rey Suerte, twins Matt and Mike Nieto and Allyn Bulanadi were picked in a special Gilas round.
They can join the PBA teams that drafted them once they are dropped from the Gilas pool.