95 ROOKIE HOPEFULS BEAT DEADLINE
Ninety five aspirants heeded the call and beat the deadline for application to the 2014 Gatorade PBA Draft set on August 24.
As expected, Fil-foreign guards Stanley Pringle and Chris Banchero lead the pack, but now part of the pool are Gilas cadets Kevin Alas, Jake Pascual, Matt Ganuelas, and Ronald Pascual.
Alas, alongside his brother Junjun, Ronald Pascual, and Ganuelas beat the clock and passed their applications Wednesday.
Alas, Ganuelas, and the Pascuals all played for NLEX in the PBA D-League and their heads-up play in the collegiate ranks as well as the D-League earned them spots in the Gilas Cadets roster.
The 6-foot-1 Pringle is said to be high on the list of GlobalPort as the No. 1 overall pick, but there are a lot of intriguing prospects down the guard-heavy rookie class.
Adamson’s Jericho Cruz and Ateneo’s Juami Tiongson, who both suited up for Blackwater in recent pocket tournaments, will also be available for picking in the Draft, along with do-it-all guard Brian Heruela from UC and Big Chill in the D-League.
Perpetual’s Juneric Baloria, and Arellano’s Nard John Pinto have also placed their names in the rookie pool even if both players are still playing for their respective squads in the NCAA.
The Draft will also feature shooters in UST’s Clark Bautista, Adamson’s Roider Cabrera, UE’s Lord Casajeros and Ralf Olivares, JRU’s Philip Paniamogan, and St. Benilde’s Paolo Taha.
Tireless forwards are also in the crop of rookies as Perpetual’s Harold Arboleda and Justine Alano, FEU’s Gryann Mendoza, and Mapua’s Kenneth Ighalo are all joining the rookie selection process.
Jake Pascual is expected to be the top big man to go early, with San Beda teammates Kyle Pascual, Rome dela Rosa, and twins Anthony and David Semerad also hoping to find spots when the PBA opens shop in October.
Also among the frontline prospects are Adamson’s Rodney Brondial, Ateneo’s Frank Golla, Arellano’s Prince Caperal, UP’s Raul Soyud, Letran’s Jam Cortes and Jojo Belorio, and La Salle’s Papot Paredes and Jovet Mendoza, and San Sebastian’s Dexter Maiquez.
Manny Pacquiao and nephew Rene, who played for Hog’s Breath Cafe in the D-League, are also on the list, as well as Paolo Orbeta and Ritchie Paul Gutierrez, son of celebrities Eddie Gutierrez and Annabelle Rama.
The rookie applicants will undergo biometrics and various physical tests during the Gatorade PBA Draft Combine on August 18 and 19 at the Gatorade Hoops Center.
Only after the Draft Combine will the PBA come out with the official list for the Draft.
The 2014 Gatorade PBA Draft, sponsored by Robinson’s Midtown Manila, Sexy Chef, Iwata, Magnolia Purewater, Grilla, Shrimp Shack, The Old Spaghetti House, Inewvasion, JJ Sports Bar, Li-ning, Sbarro and Dunkin Donuts, will be held at Robinsons Midtown Manila at 4 p.m. on August 24. (RL)
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