LAS VEGAS - Although it's a relatively thin pool of 70 aspirants compared to last year's 150 applicants, the upcoming Season 49 PBA Rookie Draft is thick with talent.
Among those likely to be taken early include familiar names such as Justine Baltazar, Sedrick Barefield, Jonel Policarpio, Evan Nelle, Kai Balunggay, Calean Tiongson, and CJ Cansino among others.
After that glittery lineup, there's still a lot of potentially valuable assets left to be had. One of those hopefuls whose stock has risen include former San Beda point guard Peter Alfaro.
READ A player 'missing' from PBA list leaves an indelible mark in basketball
After collecting a chip with the Red Lions in last year's NCAA Season 99, the 5-foot-11 play maker hitched with the Zamboanga Valientes where he averaged 11.9 points and 4.3 assists while logging 20 minutes a game in three legs of The Asian Tournament.
Alfaro's production didn't surprise San Beda coach Yuri Escueta. "He's smart. Knows how to play the game and play his role. He also has leadership (qualities)."
APPARENTLY, OTHERS ARE NOTICING AS WELL.
"I've heard of him," said TNT head coach Chot Reyes. "I still have to see the full scouting report from my assistant coaches. We will look at him" Reyes added.
The son of former pro Pedro Alfaro (N-Rich of the MICAA in 1973-74 and Presto in the PBA in 1975-76), Peter is thrilled about the possibility of following in his dad's footsteps.
"It's a long-awaited dream for me and my family. It's both an exciting and challenging opportunity to pave my own path," the 25-year old Marketing Management degree-holder told me in a telephone interview.
A kid from a small town trying to honor his dad's legacy in a big city of dreams. Can't find a better story to root for.
JEROM LASTIMOSA UPDATE.
If fate hadn't been so cruel, former Adamson star Jerom Lastimosa would have easily been among the top picks in the July 14 proceedings.
It's not clear exactly when it happened, no thanks to a lack of transparency, but the cat-quick floor general from Ormoc city tore his ACL sometime before the start of the UAAP's Season 86 last year.
It's a tragedy that has given teams reservations in picking a recently-injured star.
Fear and apprehension are fair game in this case but the advances of medical technology have allowed athletes to return back to top form following a such an injury.
"So far so good. Eto pagaling na sya around 70 to 80 percent and for now preparing for sports-specific movements such as jumping, sprints, slides, laterals," Jerom told me via text message.
Now handled by agent Edger Mangahas, Jerom said he is unlikely to return to action until this December and that he is committed to his recovery "101 percent."
Sounds like a player worth waiting for. So make that two Bisdaks to cheer on.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
