2 Negrense hopefuls selected in PBA Draft
Two Negros Occidentalbased cagers moved closer to realizing their dreams of reaching the PBA after they were selected during the PBA Season 48 Rookie Draft at the Market! Market! in Taguig City on Sunday night, September 17.
Jhan McHale Nermal, a native of Negros Occidental’s Hinigaran town, was selected by the NLEX Road Warriors in the second round of the rookie selection proceedings, where 79 out of a record of 124 applicants were selected.
On the other hand, Bacolod City-native Jan Gabriel Sobrevega was one of the 11 players selected by the NorthPort Batang Pier after they drafted the former University of the East Red
Warrior in the sixth round.
AnotherWesternVisayasbased player in Iloilo Citynative Jeric James Pido, was also given a crack to make it to the PBA after being snagged by the Terrafirma Dyip in the seventh round.
Alsogiventheopportunity were Iloilo United Royals’ Lorenzo Navarro (fifth round by the Road Warriors), Theo Joshua Flores (seventh round by the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters), and Negros Pau Muscovados’ Camillus Altamirano (fifth round by the San Miguel Beermen).
Meanwhile, the Dyip has made Filipino-American guard Stephen Holt as their top-overall pick, followed by Christian David to the Blackwater Bossing, Luis
Villegas and Keith Datu, Jr. to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, Zavier Lucerto to the NorthPort Batang Pier, and Kenneth Tuffin to the Fuel Masters.
Also selected in the first round of the drafting were Richard Rodger to the Road Warriors, Brandon Bates to the Meralco Bolts, Deschon WinstonandBryanAndrade to the Converge FiberXers, Cade Flores to the Batang Pier,andTaylorJamesMiller to the Dyip.
Aside from Nermal, also drafted in the second round were Kenmark Carino (Dyip), Bryan Santos (FiberXers), Henry Galinato (Painters), Raffy Verano and Ricci Rivero (Fuel Masters), Enoch Valdez (Road Warriors),
Jan Louisse Santos (FiberXers), James Kwekuteye (Bossing), Louie Sangalang (Dyip), Ralph Cu (Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings), and Adrian Nocum (Painters).
Picked in the third round were John Brylle Bahio (Dyip), Clifford Jopia (Bossing), Sherwin Concepcion (Painters), Matthew Daves (Fuel Masters), Brent Paraiso (Batang Pier), Dominick Fajardo (Road Warriors), Inand Fornillos (FiberXers), Jolo Mendoza (Bolts), Pat Maagdenberg (Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots), Kim Aurin (Kings), and John Troy Mallillin (Beermen).
Selected in the fourth round were Tommy delos
Olivario (Dyip), Archie Concepcion (Bossing), JC Cullar (Painters), John Lloyd Clemente (Fuel Masters), FranYu(BatangPier),Francis Giussani (Road Warriors), King Caralipio (FiberXers), Zachary Huang (Bolts), Rey Anthony Peralta (Hotshots), Franz Abuda (Kings), and Jayson Apolonio (Beermen).
Apart from Navarro and Altamirano, others drafted in the fifth round were Damie Cuntapay (Dyip), Dariel Bayla (Bossing), Larry Arpia Jr. (Painters), Daniel Atienza (Fuel Masters), John Amores (Batang Pier), Rhinwil Yambing(FiberXers),Jessie Sumoda (Bolts), Warren
Bonifacio (Hotshots), and Brandrey Bienes (Kings).
Others selected in the later rounds were Ian Herrera, Johnnel Bauzon, Joemari Lacastesantos, Nikko Paranada, and Regie Boy Basibas (Batang Pier); Kamron Vigan, Raymond Binuya, Michael Comia, Andree Flores, and Jonathan del Rosario (FiberXers); Jboy Gob, Jayvee dela Cruz, Jamel Ramos, and Kyt Jimenez (Beermen); Kenneth Villapando and Enrique Caunan(Dyip);JoseGomez de Liano (Fuel Masters); Shean Jackson (Bolts); and Christian Bunag (Hotshots)./ASC,