PBA: Ginebra adds Slaughter with the first overall pick of the 2013 draft

(Updated 6:48pm) Barangay Ginebra San Miguel made it official on Sunday, selecting former Ateneo Blue Eagle, NLEX Road Warrior, and Gilas Pilipinas center Greg Slaughter with the first overall pick in the 2013 PBA Draft, Sunday at the Robinson's Midtown Mall.

Slaughter was one of 44 players that found teams, out of 79 applicants.

[Review all the picks of the 2013 PBA Draft here]

It was an open secret that Ginebra would tab the 6'11" center, especially with team manager Alfrancis Chua last week tweeting out "Welcome to our family" along with a picture of him and Slaughter.

The San Mig Coffee Mixers selected San Sebastian Stag Ian Sangalang second, while the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters picked up Letran Knight Raymond Almazan third.

The Air21 Express originally had the first overall pick, winning the lottery last October 11, but they had to convey it to Ginebra as part of a multi-team deal that saw the Express get KG Canaleta and John Wilson, in exchange for Elmer Espiritu and the selection, among others.

Barako Bull Energy Cola came into the draft with the fourth to sixth selections, but traded them all away in favor of more established PBA players. As a result, Ginebra picked James Forrester fourth, while GlobalPort landed up the Far Eastern University Tamaraws tandem of Terrence Romeo (fifth) and RR Garcia (sixth). The Batang Pier also went on to pick former Gilas cadet Isaac Holstein seventh.

Completing the first round were Ryan Buenafe (Alaska), Alex Nuyles (Rain or Shine) and Justin Chua (San Mig Coffee).

In round two, GlobalPort added Nico Salva to their haul, with Rain or Shine picking Jeric Teng, San Mig Coffee adding Justin Melton, Barako picking up Jeric Fortuna, and Talk 'N Text bringing in JP Erram.

Going 16th was Eric Camson, to Air21, followed by Robby Celiz to TNT, Ping Exciminiano to Alaska, Gayford Rodriguez to Rain or Shine, and Carlo Lastimosa to Barako, to end round two.

[Check out the per-team breakdown of drafted players as well as the list of undrafted players here]

Teams began passing in round four. The last player taken was FEU's Mark Bringas, by the FEU Tamaraws in round seven.

Ginebra last season finished with a 24-28 cumulative record, making the Finals of the 2013 Commisisoner's Cup, and reaching the quarterfinals in the 2012-13 Philippine Cup and 2013 Governors' Cup.

Slaughter will likely get plugged in immediately into the Ginebra starting line-up, forming a huge front court with fellow Atenean Japeth Aguilar. - AMD, GMA News