Take your pick: Rabeh Al-Hussaini or Noy Baclao?

For Air21, it doesn’t matter who will be the No. 1 overall pick as the two former Ateneo stars are expected to be named the top selections by the Express in Sunday’s PBA Rookie Draft at the Market! Market! Place in Taguig City.

Air21 coach Yeng Guiao and top team officials have been consistent in mentioning the names of Al-Hussaini and Baclao, no doubt the best bigmen in the draft who powered Ateneo to back-to-back UAAP championships in 2008 and 2009.

The 6-foot-7 Al-Hussaini, the UAAP Most Valuable Player (MVP) during the 2008 season and the Finals MVP last season, also had a brief stint with the Smart-Gilas Pilipinas, while the 6-foot-6 Baclao was named UAAP Finals MVP in 2008.

“As you know, Air21 is lacking in big men, and this a perfect opportunity for us to solidify our frontline with Rabeh and Noy,” said Air21 team manager Allan Gregorio.

While the Express are sold on tapping the services of Al-Hussaini and Baclao with the first two picks, management is still contemplating on whom to take with the third overall selection, which they got from a three-way trade last week.

Talk ‘N Text first dealt Mark Cardona to Air21 in exchange for the No. 4 pick in the draft. The Express then dealt the 6-foot-1 guard to Meralco in exchange for sophomore point guard Josh Urbiztondo and the third overall selection.

Sources said that the Express are looking at four possible players — former Letran teammates and Gilas members Rey Guevara and RJ Jazul — as well as one-time University of the East player Elmer Espiritu and Sean Michael Anthony.

What is certain, however, is that management will use the third pick to improve its roster for the next season set to open this October.

Last year, the franchise owned by Bert Lina – under Burger King – also had the No. 1 overall selection and used it by taking 6-foot-9 Japeth Aguilar. The two camps had a dispute when the former Ateneo and Western Kentucky University player refused to sign a contract.

The conflict was settled when Aguilar signed a deal and after playing one game, he was shipped to the Tropang Texters, which loaned him to Smart-Gilas.

This time, Air21 management is confident of a smooth transition by Al-Hussaini, Baclao, and the other players they are eyeing in the draft, which has a total of 66 applicants who participated in the week-long Rookie Camp.

“They’ll be given playing minutes, but they have to focus and play with the system of coach Yeng,” Gregorio said. “Talent wise, we know that these players can compete in the PBA. There are few big guys who can run the floor.”

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 also 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.