Rookies strut wares

After five games involving 10 teams in the PBA Governors’ Cup until last Wednesday, 12 rookies have made their pro debuts. There were 18 newbies listed on opening day rosters, excluding Magnolia’s Jerom Lastimosa on the injured list and including Rain or Shine’s Luis Villegas who sat out last season.

NLEX saw action yesterday and rookie Jonnel Policarpio was expected to play so he would be the 13th freshman to hit the court. Ginebra makes its first appearance against Rain or Shine in Candon, Ilocos Sur, tomorrow and rookies RJ Abarrientos and Paul Garcia will likely suit up. Of the rookies on active lineups, Rain or Shine’s Francis Escandor, Blackwater’s Miggy Corteza and Magnolia’s Pedro Alfaro have yet to check in.

Three rookies scored in double figures in their initial outings. Blackwater’s Sedrick Barefield tallied 18 points on eight-of-20 from the field, including one-of-five threes, in 25:05 minutes, the most of any newbie. He also collected four rebounds, an assist and four turnovers. Barefield was a minus-2 in the game which the Bossing lost to Rain or Shine, 110-97. Another Blackwater rookie DJ Mitchell went scoreless on two three-point tries in 2:54, the least exposure of the 12. Mitchell had a rebound and no turnover in rating a minus-6. Only five rookies finished without a turnover — Mitchell, Meralco’s CJ Cansino, NorthPort’s Evan Nelle, Phoenix’ Kai Ballungay and Villegas. Joining Mitchell in the scoreless cast were TNT’s Calvin Payawal and San Miguel’s Avan Nava.

Aside from Barefield, the other rookie twin digit scorers were Rain or Shine’s Caelan Tiongson and Felix Lemetti. Tiongson fired 15 points on five-of-10 field goals in 20:18 while Lemetti netted 11 on three-of-five threes plus two-of-three free throws in 17:52. Tiongson, 32, is the oldest rookie in the batch. He was a plus-6 in his game, the same rating as Payawal.

No rookie has shot a four so far. Knocking down a trio of threes was Lemetti and a pair was Tiongson. Sinking one triple each were Barefield, Villegas and Nelle. The only rookie starter was Terrafirma’s Paolo Hernandez who came from Mapua. Hernandez was picked on the second round by Ginebra in this year’s draft then traded to Terrafirma. As a first stringer for the Dyip against Converge last Wednesday, he had two points, one rebound and one turnover in 19:24. Hernandez missed a three and two free throws in a forgettable performance where he was a minus-21. Another Terrafirma rookie Didat Hanapi had two points, one assist and one turnover in 9:02.

Showing promise in his first appearance was Ballungay who compiled five points and three rebounds in 14:20 with a rating of plus-2. He shot two of four from the floor and hit one of one foul shot while holding his own against San Miguel’s bigs. Ballungay and Policarpio are the youngest among the rookies at 22.