Air21, which owns the first three picks in Sunday’s PBA Rookie Draft at the Market! Market! Place in Taguig City, is dead set on making Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Noy Baclao as its top two picks.

But for its third choice, the Express are torn between former collegiate slam dunk champions, Elmer Espiritu and Rey Guevara.

“Honestly, it’s either Elmer or Rey. But the final recommendation will come from the coaching staff,” Air21 team manager Allan Gregorio said.

The 6-foot-4 Espiritu, who played for the University of the East Red Warriors, won a slam dunk title in the NCAA-UAAP game in 2007, while the 6-foot-1 Guevara, a former Letran Knight, also won the event in 2006.

“If you need role player who can get rebound and contribute on offense, it’s Espiritu. But if you need offense right away, it’s Guevara. So it all depends on what we really need. Management and coaching staff will deliberate on this,” Gregorio added.

What is certain, according to Gregorio, is that the third overall pick won’t be traded.

“That’s the instruction of (team owner) Mr. Bert Lina,” he said.

“Our boss wants to have a have young, talented, and marketable team. Our option right now is to keep all these (picks),” Gregorio added.

Aside from the first three picks, the Express also own the sixth, 18th and 19th overall picks in the annual Draft.

Air21 won the No. 1 lottery pick of the Draft, and took the No. 2 from Talk ’N Text and secured the No. 3 pick from Meralco following separate trade deals.

Talk ’N Text has the No. 4 pick, which was acquired from Air21 in a previous deal with Coca-Cola involving Chris Ross, while at No. 5 is Rain or Shine. The Express have the sixth pick obtained in a trade with the Barangay Ginebra Kings (Yancy de Ocampo).

Ginebra will be picking No. 7 (acquired in a trade with Red Bull involving San Miguel Beer and Mike Holper) and No. 8, while picking No. 9 is Philippine Cup champion B-Meg Derby Ace, No. 10 is Fiesta Cup champion Alaska and No. 11 is Meralco.