SANGA, BIG CHILL PLAYERS LEAD THIS YEAR’S DRAFT SNUBS
There were 44 hopefuls whose dreams were realized when their names were called and they took the stage in last Sunday’s Rookie Draft. But for the other 35 applicants who missed their chance to be picked in the big league, they will go back to the drawing board.
After a record seven rounds, there were still notable names that were snubbed by the teams in this year’s Draft.
Leading the ones who were left out in the board is former FEU sharpshooter Paul Sanga.
The 6-foot-4 forward, who almost had his first brush in the PBA when his name was toyed in the famed Gilas draft in 2011, failed to sway the scouts even though he recorded the most sit-ups, 533 reps to be exact, during the Rookie Biometrics. Although left out, Sanga will still have a chance to play, now with the Hog’s Breath Café Razorbacks in the ongoing PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup.
His Razorbacks teammate, the 5-foot-10 former NU Bulldogs guard Joseph Terso, was also snubbed in the Draft.
After Alex Mallari and Keith Jensen were selected in the first round of last year’s Draft, and Terrence Romeo and Ryan Buenafe’s early selections this year, the players from Big Chill saw their luck turn to the opposite as six of their studs failed to get called last Sunday.
Shooter Mac Montilla leads the Supercharger snubs, together with San Sebastian’s tough-as-nails guard Raymond Maconocido, UP’s Anjelo Montecastro, Jerryvi Glorioso of CEU, Lyceum’s Jessie Collado, and JRU gunslinger Jeckster Apinan.
Big man Eric Echane and guard JR Bulangis, Apinan’s former teammates in JRU, were also not drafted.
Dave Najorda, a 6-foot-5 forward for Jumbo Plastic Linoleum Giants and the brother of GlobalPort’s Leo Najorda, was also snubbed in this year’s Draft, along with 6-foot-3 forward Raffy Ynion, and ex-UE Red Warrior Lucas Tagarda
But all is not lost on these cagers. They’re now considered rookie free agents and can try out with any PBA team of their choice. (RLeongson)
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