Sta. Lucia signs Belano

Felix Belano became the first marquee MBA player to jump to the PBA fold this year as the former Davao Eagle ace guard signed up with Sta. Lucia Realty the other day.

Sta. Lucia coach Norman Black is happy with the new development in their camp, believing Belano’s arrival will make the team’s backcourt more steady and stable with the 5-foot-10 Davao native to alternate with Paolo Mendoza at pointguard spot.

Black doesn’t know the details of Belano’s contract but believes the diminutive guard got what he deserves in his entry into the Sta. Lucia lineup that all but quashed hopes of veteran guard Ronnie Magsanoc to get a contract extension with the team.

Sta. Lucia took Belano from the unrestricted free agent pool with the player, who made a record in the MBA by dishing out the first-ever quadruple-double performance in the fledgling league, being picked by Pop Cola in the 1998 amateur draft but left unsigned.

Several other MBA players hope to join the PBA this year through the Annual Rookie Draft set Jan. 14 at Glorietta in Makati.

Thirty-four MBA players beat the deadline for the application for the draft, bringing to 64 the total number of players in the draft pool to be presented to the 10 teams during the drafting. Also in the list are 12 Fil-foreign players led by the highly touted Kenny Evans of San Francisco State and John Arigo of University of North Florida and 13 PBL mainstays led by Roger Yap, Egay Echavez, Anton Villoria and Marvin Ortiguerra.

Among the ace MBA players in the pool are Willie Miller of Nueva Ecija, Francis Adriano of Pasig-Rizal, Michael Manigo of Cebu, Ato Morano of Pampanga, Oliver Agapito of Batangas, and Manila’s Gilbert Demape, Jonathan Serrano and Dino Manuel.

The other MBA players are Dave Bautista, Jovito Sese, Joven Calamay, Arvin Adovo, Michael Garcia, Oliver Bunyi, Jonathan de Guzman, Rolando Basilides, Leode Garcia, Dominic Uy, Woodrow Enriquez, Jercules Tangkay, Michael Almonte, Marlon Piodo, Marlon Basco, Peter June Simon, June Longalong, Rafael Santos Jr., Jomar Tierra, Paul Guerrero, Norman Gonzales, Maoi Roca, Joseph Allan Salangsang and Jay Magat.

The other Fil-foreign players who joined the pool are Jason Henkey of Glendora High, Ken Gumpenberger of Cal State San Bernardino, David Friedhof of Apple Valley, Jeremy Anicieta of North Park, Michael Hrabak of Central Arizona, Jeffrey Manebo of Centennial College (Canada), Christopher Clark of Trident Tech, Dennis Andrew Ducusin of Ryerson Polytechnic, Francis Rawschmayer of Florida Community College and Joshua Lambert of USAF Academy.

Francis Zamora, Allen Patrimonio, Calijohn Orfrecio, Michael Robinson, Recaredo Calimag, Jerald Ybanes, Orlando Torrente, Rolando Pascual, Ramon Jose, Tristan Codamon, Cesar Hernandez, Ryan Bernardo, Charles de Jesus, Isagani Tablan Jr., Isagani Malindog and Alvin Yu are the other local amateurs hoping to turn pro.