MANILA – Four members of the Iloilo United Royals team in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League are set to try their luck in the 2023 PBA Rookie Draft this Sunday at the Market! Market! in Taguig City.
Ilonggo Omar Larupay, Lorenzo Navarro, Joshua Flores, and Shaquille Imperial have submitted their applications, said United Royals playing team manager Michael Jay Javelosa.
The 6-foot-2 Larupay was a former standout of the CenterPhil Montessori SilverKnights before being recruited to Manila to play for the University of the East Red Warriors in the UAAP and Lyceum of the Philippines Pirates in the NCAA.
The Lambunao, Iloilo forward averaged 5.9 points, six rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.5 blocks in almost 16 minutes of action in his 25-game appearance for the United Royals.
The 5-foot-8 Navarro, on the other hand, previously played for the De La Salle University Green Archers in the UAAP before he transferred to the Pirates, where he teamed up with Larupay.
The Sta. Ana, Manila native suited up for 22 games for the United Royals and averaged 7.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.5 steals while shooting 28 percent from the three-point line.
The 6-foot-4 Flores, meanwhile, was a former member of the National University Bulldogs in the UAAP before he suited up for Pampanga Royce team in the Pilipinas Super League and with the United Royals.
The Baybay City, Leyte native shot 26.5 percent from the three-point line and averaged 12.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, two assists, 1.2 steals and 0.1 blocks per game in 24 appearances.
Lastly, Imperial is a 5-foot-10 guard who became part of the University of Perpetual Help Altas in the NCAA before he moved back to his hometown in Cebu with the Southwestern University Cobras.
Imperial was one of the late additions in the United Royals team as he averaged 7.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.7 blocks in almost 17.1 minutes of action in nine games.
“We have four players who have submitted their application to the PBA Draft,” Javelosa said. “Hopefully, their performance with us here in the MPBL will help to boost their stock in the draft.”/PN
