Local stars, Fil-fors join PBL rookie camp today

A long list of promising aspirants, led by NCAA star Gaby Espinas and Cebu’s Joseph Ronald "Junior Shaq" Quiñahan, are expected to show their stuff when the PBL holds its Rookie Camp today at the Makati Coliseum.

Aside from the local talents, a bevy of Fil-foreigners have confirmed their participation in the one-day event which will serve as a preview of the incoming players who will join the Dispersal-Rookie drafts on Friday.

Commissioner Chino Trinidad said the Rookie Camp will be handled by veteran coach Bong Go who is expected to prepare special drills for the participants.

"I want to put the players in different play situations and see how they will handle each," said the former lieutenant of coaching "maestro" Baby Dalupan.

A total of 70 players, most of them from NCAA and some from Cebu, have already signified to join the camp which is unique from the past Rookie camps.

The 6-foot-4 Espinas, 22, made history in the NCAA by winning both the Rookie and MVP honors as he helped Philippine Christian University (PCU) win its first ever NCAA crown. The amiable Espinas is the most sought after cager in the country right now, what with his great leaping ability and delicate touch from the perimeter.

A dead ringer of NBA’s Shaq O’Neal, the 6-foot-5 Quiñahan is undoubtedly the most popular cager in the South with his ferocious rebounding. The University of Visayas star has won several individual honors in the Cebu league.

Leading the list of Fil-foreigners are 6’4 Christopher Tenoso, Eugene Adduro, Jeffrey Francisco, Jerome Zaldivia, Kevin White and Marlon Dumbrique.

Also joining the Rookie Camp, are PCU’s Jason Castro, Joel Solis and Most Improved Player winner Ian Vincent Garrido, University of Perpetual Help Dalta System’s Khiel Misa, Marcel Cuenco, Vladymir Joe and Fritz Bauzon, San Beda’s Martin Lloyd Antonio, Marco Antonio Arbole, Giancarlo De Guzman and Yousif Aljamal, Jr., San Sebastian’s Venancio Rebuya, John Paul Marquez and Raymond John Aguilar.

Leading the UAAP side is hulking 6-foot-5 Karl Kenneth Bono and three other Adamson teammates.

The session starts at 9 a.m. but the players are advised to come to the venue at 8 a.m. and must bring their playing uniforms.