MANILA, Philippines—At just a shade taller than 6-foot-5, former La Salle forward Abu Tratter is the tallest player to join the 2018 PBA rookie draft.

He is already being touted as the best big man available in the draft, and is a consensus first-round pick.

Tratter, who averaged 7.3 points and 5.7 rebounds in his final UAAP season, acknowledged that he has some advantages over the other big men who are hoping to hear their name called in Sunday's ceremony.

• READ: No Ray Parks in Sunday's showcase

"One way I can separate myself from everybody else is my athleticism," said Tratter, who had a vertical leap of 35 inches. "Not a lot of bigs are as athletic and as mobile as me."

Once he gets to the PBA, however, Tratter said he hopes to prove that he should not be boxed as a "big;" he is confident that he has the skills to play in the perimeter in the professional league.

"I think I could be versatile enough to be a guard and a big. You know, somebody like Gabe (Norwood)," said Tratter, referring to the Rain Or Shine and Gilas Pilipinas veteran who is known to be one of the best defenders in the PBA.

"(He) can impact the game not only on offense but also on defense, and also set the tone for the team," he added.

Tratter also wants to fulfill the potential that he believes he has only shown flashes off with his stints in La Salle and Marinerong Pilipino in the PBA D-League, and even with the Gilas cadets.

"Another great thing is my potential to be a great player," he said. "I'm only a year off from setting myself aside, from Gilas, setting from D-League, or even La Salle."

"Just being able to be on my own, working on my own game, improving, there is a lot of potential for me to be a greater player," he added.

The draft seems to be wide open after the first three picks, though Tratter figures to be one of the first names off the board following the troika of CJ Perez, Ray Parks, and Robert Bolick.

"A couple of teams (have talked to me)," Tratter admitted. "But whatever team is picking me, hopefully I can make a greater impact."

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