17 rookies make grade in pro league

Seventeen rookies, led by top draft pick Rich Alvarez of Shell, made it to the starting rosters of the 10 ballclubs for the 2004 PBA wars which will see 13 veteran players suiting up for new teams and Alvin Patrimonio and Nelson Asaytono the only remnants of the talented squads of the 80s.

Seven teams will be featuring neophytes with Purefoods having four in PBL Platinum Cup MVP awardee Peter June Simon, James, Yap, Ervin Sotto and Paul Artadi, and FedEx (Marc Pingris, Ranidel de Ocampo and Wesley Gonzales), Shell (Alvarez, Paul Kelani Ferreria and Carlo Sharma) and Alaska (Joachim Thoss, Bernzon Franco and Willie Wilson) three apiece.

Sta. Lucia listed two rookies in Nelbert Omolon and Ronald Cuan, Red Bull Barako and Coca-Cola one each in Denver Lopez and Gary David, respectively, while San Miguel Beer, Talk n Text and Barangay Ginebra all opted for an all-veteran lineup.

Kim Valenzuela, a Fil-Am pointguard from Cuyacama College in California, missed Ginebra’s starting roster as he’s nursing a hamstring injury.

Rafi Reavis was in Coca-Cola’s lineup though they have yet to close their contract-negotiation.

Joining other teams before the deadline for submission of lineup yesterday were Noli Locsin with Sta. Lucia and Gilbert Malabanan with San Miguel.

Malabanan, the 6-foot-2 forward released by Ginebra after the 2003 campaign, got a brief playing pact with San Miguel as coach Jong Uichico opted to take sometime before reactivating ace forward Danny Seigle. Put on the San Miguel injury list with Seigle is 6-foot-6 center Rysal Castro.

Dale Singson (San Miguel), Billy Mamaril (Shell), Norman Gonzales (Sta. Lucia), Willy Miller (Talk n Text), Yancy de Ocampo (Talk n Text), Rodney Santos (Ginebra), Noynoy Falcasantos (Ginebra), Migs Noble (Ginebra), Andy Seigle (Ginebra), Jun Limpot (Purefoods) and Eddie Laure (Purefoods) are the other players set to see action for new teams this season.

Welcoat’s Jojo Tangkay may find a spot in Talk n Text as the season wears on as the Cebuano forward is currently trying it out with the Phone Pals.

Meanwhile, Patrimonio, 37, has now become the most senior in the league with Class ’88 batchmate Jerry Codiñera failing to make it to the FedEx starting lineup since he’s still recovering from a colon surgery.

Asaytono, a member of Batch 1989, is the second oldest in the rank, followed by Bong Hawkins (91), Vergel Meneses (92), Bong Ravena (92), Jun Limpot (93), Vic Pablo (93), Johnny Abarrientos (93), Boyet Fernandez (93) and Olsen Racela (93). — Nelson Beltran