Japeth heads list of PBA hopefuls

MANILA, Philippines - Japeth Aguilar, whose impressive showing in the Jones Cup has sparked some kind of a bidding war among at least four teams, heads the 53 aspirants in next week’s Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Rookie Draft at the Market! Market! Place in Taguig.

Burger King, which owns this year’s No. 1 overall pick, is expected to tap Aguilar, the former Ateneo stalwart who honed his skills and talent in the US and the only amateur player in the FIBA-Asia Men’s Basketball Championship-bound national team.

But at least three other teams have signified their intention to acquire Aguilar through trade or whatever deal could be consummated, hopeful the 6-9 cager could make a big difference in their respective campaigns in the coming conference.

The 2009 class also includes a pair of Most Valuable Player (MVP) awardees, a Finals MVP who played a key role in San Beda’s three straight NCAA men’s basketball championship, a talented center instrumental in La Salle’s UAAP championship two years ago, a brother of Alaska big man Reynel Hugnatan and a slew of Fil-Am cagers, including a nephew of Talk n Text guard Jimmy Alapag.

The deadline of application ended last Friday, at least a week before the much-awaited event on Aug. 2 that serves as the league’s first official activity for the 2009-2010 season.

All the aspirants had been divided into four teams and will play in a two-day, eight-game schedule at the Caruncho gym in Pasig City that forms part of the traditional Rookie Camp slated on July 28, 30 and 31.

Teaming up with Aguilar in Group A (yellow) are Pharex stalwarts Ronnie Mathias, Sean Co and Josh Urbiztondo, while PBL MVP Chris Ross, Roel Hugnatan and 2007 UAAP MVP Jervy Cruz spearhead Group B (white).

San Beda star Ogie Menor, La Salle stalwart Rico Maierhofer, Far Eastern University guard Benedict Fernandez and Oracle guard Chris Timberlake stood at the forefront of Group C (blue), while Group D (red) will be led by University of the East’s Marcy Arellano, Jose Rizal University’s James Sena and Kevin White, reportedly related to Alapag.

On the first day of play, Group 1 clashes with Group 3 in first game at 2 p.m., while Group 2 battles Group 4 at 4 p.m.

The final day of the camp is a crossover double-header between Group 1 vs Group 2 (2 p.m.) and Group 3 vs Group 4 (4 p.m.).

The Rookie Camp starts on July 28 at the Club 650 gym in Libis, Quezon City from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will be supervised by supervisor of officials Ramil Cruz where the prospective rookie hopefuls are subjected in terms of physical aspect, skills and strength evaluation as well as basketball drills.

Failure to attend the camp would automatically scratch the applicant from the final list of rookie picks to be announced by league commissioner Sonny Barrios on July 31.

There will be no camp on the 29th to give way to the coaching clinic to be conducted by Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig starting at 2 p.m.