BY JONAS TERRADO
Marinerong Pilipino became the surprise winner of the sweepstakes for Jamie Malonzo after selecting the former La Salle standout as the second overall pick of the PBA D-League Rookie Draft held Monday at the PBA Office in Libis.
The Skippers didn’t hesitate taking Malonzo after the AMA Online Education Titans decided to pick 17-year-old homegrown player Reed Baclig as the top choice of this year’s proceedings.
Many had expected AMA to take Malonzo, the former Portland State University who had an impressive one-and-done stint with the Green Archers in the past UAAP campaign.
But AMA team manager Edwin Ancheta said it was best to go homegrown with Baclig, who has been part of the school’s program since his elementary days.
“Although nagbigay kami ng offer sa kanya (Malonzo), mas focused kami sa homegrown,” said Ancheta.
Marinerong Pilipino coach Yong Garcia was surprised that the chance to draft Malonzo fell into their lap.
“Hindi talaga namin inaakala na makukuha namin siya,” Garcia said after the Skippers selected a group of talented amateur players they hope can boost their chances of bouncing back from a runner-up finish in last year’s Foundation Cup.
Among the notable players taken by the Skippers are ex-La Salle guards Joshua Torralba (second round) and Jollo Go (third round), University of the Philippines’ James Spencer (fourth round), former Centro Escolar University guard Judel Fuentes (fifth round) and University of Cebu star and former Mapua mainstay Darrell Menina (sixth round).
Karate Kid-Centro Escolar University, under new coach Jeff Napa, picked Gilas Cadets members Jaydee Tungcab as the third overall pick, John Apacible, John Gob, UP’s David Murrell, Jamil Bulawan, Dariel James Bayla, Joseph Gabriel Pineda, Daryl Pascual, Ivan Jose and former Adamson guard Jerie Pingoy.
Wangs-Letran took Sham Banez, Kenny Rogers Rocacurva, Kobe Monje and Paolo Javillonar and Jayson Bondoc.
Only four teams took part in the draft as the other eight participants will parade an all-collegiate squad for the season-opening Aspirants’ Cup set Feb. 13 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
The rest are University of Santo Tomas-Builders Warehouse, Far Eastern University, Mapua, APEX Fuel Mindanao-San Sebastian, EcoOil-La Salle, FamilyMart-Enderun, Diliman College and Technological Institute of the Philippines.
