From the 45 neophytes selected during the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Rookie Draft in October last year, only 24 players were lined up ahead of the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup restart slated at the Angeles University Foundation Gym in Pampanga on Sunday.
Rain or Shine Elasto Painters will be parading with most number of rookies during the PBA Bubble including Ilonggo Clint Doliguez, Rashleigh Rivero, Adrian Wong, and Vince Tolentino.
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings has three rookies in Arvin Tolentino, Kent Salado and Jerrick Balanza; Alaska Aces also has three in Kevin Barkley Ebona, Jaycee Marcelino and Reynaldo Publico while Terrafirma Dyip has Roosevelt Adams, Edson Batiller and Christian Balagasay.
Having two rookies each are San Miguel Beermen (Wendell Comboy and Daniel de Guzman), NLEX Road Warriors (Mike Ayonayon and William McAloney), Blackwater Elite (Maurice Shaw and Richard Escoto) and NorthPort Batang Pier (Sean Manganti and Renzo Subido).
Teams with one rookie each are TNT Tropang Giga in Bacolodnon Kib Montalbo, Meralco Bolts in Aaron Black and Magnolia Hotshots in Aris Dionisio. Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters is the only team which does not have a rookie.
Meanwhile, 19 PBA veterans will also be suiting up for new teams this season led by John Paul Erram, Simon Enciso, Rodolfo Alejandro and Lervin Flores with the Tropang Giga.
Eduardo Daquioag, Frank Golla, Marion Magat and Jon Jon Gabriel are now with the Elite, Brian Heruela, Jay-R Reyes and Jansen Rios with Fuel Masters, Jackson Corpuz and Jessie Saitanan with the Hotshots and Riego Gamalinda and Angelo Alolino with the Beermen.
Also donning new jerseys were Bacolodnon LA Revilla of the Batang Pier, Anthony Semerad of the Road Warriors, Ryan Arana of the Elasto Painters and Aldrech Ramos of the Dyip.
Among the transferees, 10 moved to their new teams via trades in Erram, Enciso, Daquioag, Golla, Magat, Heruela, Corpuz, Revilla, Semerad and Ramos while the rest were via free agency signings.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the PBA was forced to push back the Philippine Cup until Oct. 11 in a bubble format, where games will be held daily until Nov. 11.
Tournament format will be single-round robin elimination. Top four teams after elimination have a twice-to-beat match in the quarterfinals against the fifth to eighth team. Semifinals will be best-of-five and finals will be best-of-seven.
Beermen’s 94-78 victory over the Hotshots during the opening of the Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last March 8 will count in the team standings./PN
