2 Dabawenyos in 2016 PBA Draft Combine
TWO Dabawenyos are part of the 55 rookie applicants in the 2016 PBA Draft Combine set Sunday at Robinsons’ Midtown in Ermita, Manila.
They are D-League players Reden Marimon Celda and Spencer John Gonio Eman who are both former members of the National University (NU) Bulldogs.
Celda is a 24-year-old six-foot pointguard while 27-year-old Eman is a sixfoof-seven center.
University of Mindanao (UM) sports director Joaquin “Boy” Sarabia said Eman used to play for the UM Wildcats but his elder brother Samigue, a mainstay of the Alaska Aces team in the PBA, brought him to Manila where he had a stint with the NU Bulldogs.
Sarabia said, “I really can’t recall how he was as a player.” He, however, wished Eman well as he aspires to join the PBA through the rookie draft.
Meanwhile, shooting guard Ryan Villaroman Arambulo of the California State University in Fullerton, California and Rashawn Frisco MaCarthy of State University of New York are among the applicants. Arambulo is a six-foot-two shooting guard-forward while McCarthy is a six-foot-one guard.
Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws’ six-footfour forward Mac Belo, 23, also seeks a PBA spot. He hails from Midsayap in North Cotabato.
PBA said the rookies will join a two-day camp at the Gatorade Hoops Center in Shaw today and tomorrow.
“The aspirants will be pitted against each other as they try to make an impression in front of PBA coaches and scouts,” PBA said in a statement furnished to Sun.Star Davao yesterday, adding that the field will be grouped into eight teams with six to seven players in each squad.
Aspirants’ athleticism, agility, speed and other skills will be showcased today before displaying their skills on the court while the PBA assistant coaches will pit the teams into a single-elimination tournament tomorrow. MLSA