Ritualo leads draft applicants

Ren Ren Ritualo, Chris Calaguio and Chester Tolomia, pure local talents bound to make it big someday, are among the 34 players who have so far submitted their applications for the 2002 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) amateur draft.

Also in the list released by the pro league yesterday are 6-foot-8 Raffy Reavies of the MBA and 6-foot-5 Miguel Noble of the PBL. Aside from Calaguio and Reavies, nine other MBA players have decided to join the draft scheduled Jan. 13 at the Glorietta in Makati.

The deadline for submission of applications is at 5 p.m. today with MBA superstar and former national team player Rommel Adducul expected to beat the deadline along with PBL giants Yancy de Ocampo and Frederick Canlas, and quarterback Celino Cruz.

Their possible inclusion in the list of draftees, plus maybe a handful more players from the MBA and the PBL who might change their minds before the deadline, would make next year’s draft a perfect hunting ground for the 10 PBA teams.

Ritualo, winner of four UAAP titles with La Salle, is a deadly clutch shooter who is also seeking a slot in the Asiad Games-bound national team. The 22-year-old swingman who plays for Welcoat in the PBL is expected to be among the first-round picks.

Like Ritualo, Calaguio is a streak shooter who played a key role in the country’s successful title-retention bid in the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games last September. Tolomia, the last year’s MVP in the PBL, is an explosive all-around player and the youngest in the field at 21.

The others leaving the MBA are 6-2 Dexter Racho, 6-0 Clifton Claybrooks and 5-10 Rensy Bajar of the Nueva Ecija Patriots, 6-1 Richard Melencio of the Laguna Lakers, 6-3 Kalani Ferreira of the San Juan Knights, 6-4 John Alwyn Flores of the Socsargen Marlins, 6-2 Phillip Isaac Newton, 6-4 Christopher de Jesus of the Cebu Gems and 6-1 Sonny Boy Margate.

Calaguio and Reavies, a 24-year-old dunker who was born in New York City, also played for the now-disbanded San Juan Knights in the MBA. Ferreira was born in Hawaii and will turn 23 in February.

Other draftees born outside of the Philippines are 6-1 forward William Villa of Hawaii, 5-11 point guard Jim Alapag of Los Angeles, California, 6-2 guard Francis Rauschmayer of Japan, 6-1 guard Tom Arceno of Oak Park, Illinois and 6-3 guard Leodito Yanogacic, Jr. of New Jersey.

Completing the list released by the PBA yesterday are 5-8 Joven Mampo, 5-6 Julius Caezar David, 5-7 Orlando Eparwa, 6-4 Fortunate Payne, 5-10 Kerwin Chua, 6-1 Francis Machica, 5-10 Marc Caguco, 6-0 Stephen Tampus, 6-0 Dennis Reyes, 6-1 Albert de Guzman, 5-9 Allan Acosta, 6-4 Art Louie Agustin, 6-2 Richard Joseph dela Pena and 5-10 John Victorio.