Welcoming more rookies

The recent PBA Governors Cup got the 49th season off to a rousing start with 20 rookies seeing action. Now that the second conference or Commissioner’s Cup has rolled out, eight more freshmen have joined the fold and with Justine Baltazar set to board Converge when the MPBL Finals are over, the door remains open for newbies.

It’s a healthy sign that teams are taking a chance on young blood, giving an opportunity for hopefuls to prove themselves. Last conference, champion TNT brought in CJ Payawal and Henry Galinato and runner-up Barangay Ginebra signed up RJ Abarrientos and Paul Garcia. San Miguel Beer picked up Avan Nava while Rain or Shine took in Caelan Tiongson, Felix Lemetti, Francis Escandor and Luis Villegas (sat out last season due to injury), Terrafirma enlisted Paolo Hernandez and Didat Hanapi, Phoenix recruited Kai Ballungay, NorthPort welcomed Evan Nelle, NLEX suited up Xyrus Torres and Poli Policarpio, Magnolia engaged Peter Alfaro, Meralco called up CJ Cansino and Blackwater reeled in Sedrick Barefield, DJ Mitchell and Miggy Corteza.

The influx of rookies has meant displacing players who saw action in the Philippine Cup last season. The list of missing players includes Mike DiGregorio, Jeff Chan, James Yap, Mac Belo, Eric Camson, Jake Pascual, Yousef Taha, Gelo Alolino, Jackson Corpuz, Jayson David, Donald Gumaru, JD Dillinger, Chris Lalata, Jorey Napoles, JP Calvo, Allen Mina, Papot Paredes, Sherwin Concepcion, Diego Dario, James Sena and Archie Concepcion. They’re free agents and available to hop on board any team that’s interested.

The eight rookies who checked in this Commissioner’s Cup are Converge’s 6-2 Jordan Heading, 28, and 6-6 Pao Javillonar, 24, Terrafirma’s 5-9 Mark Nonoy, 24, and 6-4 CJ Catapusan, 26, NorthPort’s 6-1 Agem Miranda, 25, NLEX’ 6-5 JB Bahio, 26, Magnolia’s 5-11 Jerom Lastimosa, 26, and Rain or Shine’s 6-2 1/2 Michael Malonzo, 25. Of the eight, making the loudest noise are Nonoy (averaging 16 points), Lastimosa (11.5 points) and Heading (9.7 points). Heading, a Gilas veteran, was the PBA’s first overall pick in the 2020 special draft.