Unheralded rookies shine

Early this PBA season, fans are raving about rookies Paul Lee, Chris Lutz, Marcio Lassiter, Allein Maliksi, James Sena and Mac Baracael – all of whom scored in twin digits in their pro debuts.

Sena, 23, sticks out from the crowd because he wasn’t drafted last August like Lee, Lutz, Lassiter, Maliksi and Baracael. He was picked on the first round of the 2009 draft by San Miguel Beer but never got to play until now. The 6-3 1/4 La Union native saw action for Jose Rizal University and paid his dues in the semi-pro leagues before Shopinas coach Franz Pumaren gave him a chance.  

In his first PBA appearance last Oct. 5, Sena delivered 15 points, 12 rebounds and two assists in 31 minutes. Not bad for a start. The problem was the Clickers lost to Powerade, 98-87. 

Sena isn’t the only rookie who wasn’t chosen in this year’s draft. The others are Shopinas’ Mark Canlas and Powerade’s Rudy Lingganay who were both snubbed last year. Canlas, 25, suited up for UST while Lingganay, 25, was a UE standout. Lingganay played as an import with the Kuala Lumpur Dragons in the Asean Basketball League the last two seasons. Powerade coach Bo Perasol didn’t hesitate to bring him in despite a loaded point guard pool with top draft pick Jvee Casio, Celino Cruz and Chico Lanete.

Canlas didn’t make an impact in his debut with Shopinas and went scoreless in three field goal attempts in 12 minutes. Lingganay, in contrast, showed lots of promise. In his first outing, he hit 2-of-3 from the field and 2-of-2 from the line with no turnover in 20 minutes as the Tigers whipped Shopinas. Then, Lingganay notched 12 points on 4-of-11 from the floor and 4-of-4 from the stripe with three rebounds, four assists and no turnover in 18 minutes but Powerade dropped a 96-93 decision to Rain Or Shine last Sunday. In two games, Lingganay hasn’t missed a free throw and hasn’t committed a single turnover. The downside is he’s going 0-of-4 from three-point range – a surprising statistic since Lingganay’s a deadshot from long distance.

* * *

An unheralded freshman who was impressive in his debut was Talk ‘N’ Text’s Pamboy Raymundo who stands only 5-8 3/4. He was the Tropa’s lone draft pick this year. His name was called on the second round, one of three San Sebastian mainstays chosen (the others were Jason Ballesteros and Gilbert Bulawan). 

Against Meralco last Friday, Raymundo didn’t play like the league’s youngest rookie at 22. He performed with poise and confidence, obviously given a lift by coach Chot Reyes’ trust. Raymundo produced six points, six rebounds and six assists in 22 minutes – a consistent statline that belied a better all-around showing than either Ryan Reyes or Larry Fonacier. Raymundo’s a feisty defender. In the offseason, he figured in fisticuffs with Rain Or Shine’s Jonathan Uyloan. Don’t let his size fool you. Pamboy doesn’t back down from anyone, including bigger guys.

Still to prove they belong in the league are rookies Reil Cervantes of Barangay Ginebra, James Martinez of Powerade, Marc Agustin of Petron, Mark Barroca of B-Meg, Brian Ilad and Magi Sison of Shopinas, Dylan Ababou of Barako Bull. Eric Salamat, Ariel Mepana and Julius Pasculado of Alaska, Canlas and Bulawan. Add Casio to the list as fans await his debut.

What’s making this conference more interesting is the return of come-backing players like Talk ‘N’ Text’s Magnum Membrere and Charles Waters, Shopinas’ Homer Se, Meralco’s Bryan Faundo, Rain Or Shine’s Chito Jaime and Powerade’s Alex Crisano. None of those players saw action last season.

As the league welcomes 24 rookies, fans can’t help but notice the displacement of veterans like Paolo Mendoza, Marlou Aquino, Dennis Espino, Shawn Weinstein, Bam-Bam Gamalinda, Yousif Aljamal, Eddie Laure, Norman Gonzales, Erick Rodriguez, R. J. Rizada, Reed Juntilla, Patrick Cabahug, Emerson Oreta, Don Dulay, Jonathan Fernandez, Chris Pacana, Ken Bono, Chad Alonzo, Mark Andaya. Rob Wainwright, Marvin Cruz, Aris Dimaunahan, Jason Misolas, Rob Reyes, Marcy Arellano and Bruce Viray. They’re now free agents and may be picked up by any team to fill in gaps or display their wares in the ABL where like Lingganay, they could shine to earn their way back to the PBA.

* * *

Antipolo Rep. Robbie Puno (1st District), author of R. A. 10148 which granted Filipino citizenship to Marcus Douthit through naturalization, deserves credit for his unflinching support of Smart Gilas. Puno knew that Douthit would be the key to restoring the country’s prominence as an Asian basketball power and painstakingly fought for his naturalization in time for the Olympic qualifiers at the FIBA-Asia Championships in Wuhan last September.

For the gains that Smart Gilas reaped, the country is grateful to Puno who filed House Resolution No. 1761 recently to cite the national team “for elevating the country’s performance in international basketball competitions and through commitment and determination, has once again brought honor and pride to our countrymen.”

Puno noted that “this is the strongest FIBA-Asia Championship finish of the Philippines since 1987 but we should not stop short of our Olympic dream…the dream lives on.” Puno commended Smart Gilas for barging into the semifinals in Wuhan. The team would’ve finished third and made it to the Olympic wildcard qualifying tournament next year if not for a two-point heartbreaking loss to South Korea in the playoff for the bronze medal.