RAIN or Shine coach Yeng Guiao has high hopes that rookie Adrian Nocum can be a big part of the franchise's future.
Guiao said he was no longer surprised to see Nocum put up 12 points right in his very first PBA game in Rain or Shine’s 115-110 defeat over San Miguel in their Season 48 Commissioner's Cup game on Wednesday night.
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Guiao said Nocum had already attended a few team practices after he was selected No. 24 overall by the Elasto Painters in the recent draft, even while in the middle of his commitments with the San Juan Knights in the MPBL.
Rain or Shine granted Knights owner Sen. Jinggoy Estrada’s request that Nocum practice solely with their team during their playoff run that ended recently when San Juan was eliminated by Pampanga in the North Division finals.
Among the many positives Nocum brings to the team, Guiao is pleased that the 6-foot Nocum can provide ceiling in the point-guard position.
“We’ve seen him in practice a lot,” said Guiao of the 24-year old. “We know what his capabilities are. Hindi pa nga siya talaga pure point guard. Mas dos pa siya. Pero we could easily see that he can adopt to the point guard position really well. Pinakita naman niya kanina.
“May depensa, magaling dumepensa, may rebounding, kayang umiskor," Guiao added. "Ang nagiging problema namin, kung pinagpapalit ko lang si Andrei [Caracut] at si Anton [Asistio], parehong maliit. Hindi nag-iiba ‘yung size namin. Pero kapag andiyan kunwari si Adrian, medyo lumalaki kami ng konti sa point guard position. Nabibigay niya ‘yung size requirement namin."
Guiao said Nocum is definitely part of Rain or Shine’s plans for the future as part of an impressive draft haul that also included two first-rounders in Keith Datu and Luis Villegas, as well as Sherwin Concepcion.
“Bata rin itong si Nocum. He is 24 years old. Magkakasabay ‘yung mga batch na ‘to na magma-mature. Tignan natin. Baka malapit na (mag-mature),” said Guiao.
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