Potential 1st round picks prepare for physicality in PBA

MANILA, Philippines -- Heading into Sunday’s PBA Rookie Draft, potential first round draft picks Norbert Torres, Art Dela Cruz and Fil-American guard Maverick Ahanmishi were one in saying that physicality is one aspect they have prepared for as they try to fulfill their dream of playing in the pro league.

Torres, the former La Salle big man, came back from a month-long pre-draft training in Toronto, Canada a little more bulked up, aware that he will be regularly battling PBA’s big boys like two-time June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel Beer and Greg Slaughter of Barangay Ginebra in the future.

“One of the reasons I went to Toronto is to train and to gain more explosiveness and strength. I believe that will help me to adjust quicker in the PBA,” said Torres, who won a UAAP men’s basketball championship with La Salle two seasons back.

Asked about his thoughts of possibly ending up at Rain or Shine where he’ll be playing under coach Yeng Guiao, Torres welcomed that possibility, saying he’s also a scrappy player and will be ready to fit in.

“Yeah, I heard about coach Yeng Guiao, a lot of good things. And I’m excited to play for him if that is the case. I’m a scrappy player, and really, whatever the coach needs me to do, I will do to the best of my ability,” said the stocky, 6-foot-6 Torres.

“They’ll (Rain or Shine coaching staff) teach me a lot for sure and I’ll learn the ways of the PBA,” he added.

On the other hand, Dela Cruz is confident that his four-conference stint with NLEX, followed by Hapee Toothpaste is enough to prepare him for the hacking, pushing and banging in the PBA.

“Sa (PBA) D-League, I played for NLEX and Hapee for four conferences.Iyung bangaan sa D-League, preparation na para sa PBA,” shared Dela Cruz, who hopes to cap his college career with San Beda with another NCAA title this season.

The all-around Dela Cruz said he’s also getting tips from his father, Art, currently an assistant coach at Barako Bull, who reminds him to work on his game in order to thrive in the PBA.

“Ang sabi niya lagi sa akin, leep working hard and huwag makuntento kung may MVP numbers ka. Basta ang importante eh maka-PBA ka ng five to 10 years at maganda lang ang career mo,” he added.

Meantime, Ahanmishi, who played college basketball for the University of Minnesota, shared that his PBA D-League experience playing for Café France gave him a better idea on how to adjust himself to the Filipino
brand of basketball.

“Definitely (I’m adjusting to) the physicality of game.  The PBA D-League already gave me insight on how physical it is, but I know it (PBA)  will be one notch higher,” he said.

The 6-foot-1 Ahanmishi, who boasts of a 38.5-inch leap, played a huge role in Cafe France’s PBA D-League Foundation Cup title recently where they defeated favored Hapee Toothpaste in the Finals.