Team G-Rain or Shine sweeps PBA draftees mini-tourney

MANILA, Philippines - Former Phl Youth and Gilas cadet Norberto Torres, easily among the top prospects in the PBA Rookie Draft on Sunday, showed glimpses of his potential, leading Team G-Rain or Shine to a perfect three-game run in the Gatorade PBA Draft Combine at the Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong yesterday.

Torres and teammates Jaypee Mendoza, Joshua Cubillo, Eric James Acuna, Alex Almario, Carlo Gatmaitan and Christian Mari Palma ruled the Draft Combine mini-tourney with Torres making the Mythical Five with Glenn Khobuntin, Kevin Kent Racal, Michael Vincent Di Gregorio and Michael Mabulac.

Team G-Rain or Shine won the cash pot of P50,000 after topping the event featuring eight teams of seven or eight players each figuring in a short 10-minute knockout games.

Coaches Tim Cone, Jason Webb, Leo Isaac and Pido Jarencio were on hand to observe the players hoping to hear their names called during the keenly awaited draft rites Sunday at Robinsons Place Manila.

 Consensus top two prospects Moala Tautuaa and Troy Rosario were excused since they’re with the Gilas pool in Estonia and so were former Gilas cadet Garvo Lanete and NCAA stars Scottie Thompson and Art dela Cruz due to injuries.

The Draft Combine mini-tourney boiled down to a final showdown between Torres and his teammates versus the Team C-Kia made up of Racal, Di Gregorio, Yutien Andrada, Junar Arce, Juan Nicholas Elorde, Josan Nimes and Adrian Santos.

Team G-Rain or Shine prevailed, 13-6, capping a three-game run, following a 16-15 nail-biter versus Team B-Alaska then a 20-17 win over Team A-MVP.

Team B-Alaska included Almond Vosotros, Aljon Mariano, Mark Cruz, Joseph Sedurifica, Marion Magat, Mark Montuano and Krismoir Rosales while Team A-MVP was composed of Michael Angelo Miranda, Keith Jasper Agovida, Pedrito Galanza, Alex Austria, Robin Rono, Arvin Vitug, Lee Villamor and Dale Hodges.

Team B-Kia advanced to the finals in whipping Team F-Globalport, 19-12, before clobbering Team D-Barako Bull, 20-17.

Maverick Ahanmisi and Celedonio Trollano bannered Team F-Globalport while Team D-Barako Bull was led by Mabulac, Roi Sumang and Abel Galliguez.

Racal and Mabulac both put in a meet-high of nine points each in one game, Bradwyn Guinto came through with a tournament-best six rebounds while Sumang issued a league-best three assists.

Austria connected on 2-of-2 three-point clip in one game while Cubillo, Racal, Galliguez, Cruz and Carlo Gatmaitan had 1-of-1 three-point shooting in a game.

Five players were measured 6-foot-5 and above in John Ray Alabanza (6’5 1/4), Guinto (6’5 1/8), Marion Magat (6’6 1/2), Michael Miranda (6’5) and Torres (6’6 1/4).

Cruz is the shortest at 5’5, but Eric Miraflores, at 5’7, is the lightest at 139lbs. Torres is the heaviest at 248 lbs.

The Fil-foreign players showed up the homegrowns in the drill tests held Wednesday.

Ahanmisi (from University of Minnesota), Jerramy King (California State U) and Ryan Wetherell (Cal State Los Angeles) were the standouts in Day One of the Draft Combine.