Fresh blood in PBA

Paul Lee had an auspicious debut with Rain Or Shine in the PBA’s 37th season opening game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Sunday and fans are wondering if the other 23 rookies will acquit themselves as impressively.

Lee, 22, finished with 21 points, eight assists, five rebounds and two steals in 31 minutes as the Elasto Painters nipped Barangay Ginebra, 94-93. The chink in Lee’s armor was evident in his three-point shooting where he was 0-of-6.

“I’m not surprised by his showing,” said a beaming Lawrence Chongson who mentored the 6-1 combo guard at the University of the East and the PBL. “He’s got very good court sense and vision. And he can play physical, too. He’s not afraid of anyone. He showed it in his first game against a tough team like Ginebra.”

Rain Or Shine coach Yeng Guiao said Lee displayed mental toughness in towing the team to victory but also credited the efforts of everyone else on the squad – Jeff Chan, Gabe Norwood, Ronjay Buenafe, Jervy Cruz, J. R. Quinahan, Ronnie Matias, Beau Belga, Larry Rodriguez, Jireh Ibanes and Ryan Arana.  Guiao’s uncanny ability to send in unpredictable combinations on the floor kept Ginebra on the back foot most of the way. Assistant coach Caloy Garcia said Lee has been “amazing” at practice and described him as a young Willie Miller. “Paul puts us up a level higher,” said Garcia. “With Gabe playing point guard, Paul will be solid at the two spot and he can also play No. 1.”

To prepare for the banging in the PBA, Lee checked in at the Joe Abunassar boot camp in Las Vegas before the draft, according to former PBL chairman Dioceldo Sy. The conditioning paid off handsome dividends for the crack guard who went to Emilio Jacinto Elementary and San Sebastian high school before moving to UE.

Another rookie Reil Cervantes made his debut for Ginebra that night but failed to deliver. Cervantes, 25, went scoreless in two attempts and hauled in three rebounds in 10 minutes. He’s expected to fill in the four-spot vacated by Rudy Hatfield who decided to accept a non-basketball-related job in the US instead of continuing his PBA career.

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Of the 24 rookies listed in lineups this season, 21 were picked in the draft last August. The newcomers who were not in this year’s draft roster are Powerade’s Rudy Lingganay and Shopinas’ Mark Canlas and James Sena. The top 21 players chosen in the recent draft made it to the PBA although Ken Acibar was listed in Barako Bull’s reserve cast. The only drafted players who failed to find slots were third rounders Marc Cagoco (Shopinas) and Filemon Fernandez (Petron) and fourth rounder Gerald Lapus (Petron).

Rookie Marc Agustin found his way to the Petron roster where his father Ato is head coach. But it wasn’t case of nepotism. “It was Boss Robert (Non) who suggested for us to give Marc a tryout,” said Agustin.  “Marc was drafted by Powerade but wasn’t signed up. So with Boss Robert’s suggestion, I went ahead to pick up Marc. I know his skills and what he’s capable of doing. I told him just because I’m his father, he shouldn’t feel pressured, to just play his game when the opportunity comes.”

Aside from the 24 rookies, 27 veterans are wearing new uniforms this season. That means in all, 51 players are with new teams, giving the league a fresh and dynamic look. The 27 veterans who switched teams are John Ferriols of B-Meg, Dondon Hontiveros and Carlo Sharma of Petron, Rommel Adducul, Doug Kramer, Josh Vanlandingham and Alex Crisano of Powerade, Chito Jaime and Quinahan of Rain Or Shine, Don Allado, Willie Miller, Sunday Salvacion and Mick Pennisi of Barako Bull, Mark Yee, Chico Lanete, Mark Macapagal, Chris Ross and Bryan Faundo of Meralco, Jojo Duncil, Paolo Hubalde, R. J. Jazul, Ren-Ren Ritualo, Ogie Menor, Vaughn Canta, Homer Se and Pong Escobal of Shopinas and Japeth Aguilar of Talk ‘N’ Text.

Four teams submitted lineups with four rookies each. Powerade has Lingganay, Jvee Casio, Marcio Lassiter and James Martinez. Alaska signed up Julius Pasculado, Mac Baracael, Eric Salamat and Ariel Mapana. Barako Bull brought in Allein Maliksi, Paul Sorongon, Dylan Ababou and Acibar. Shopinas enlisted Brian Ilad, Canlas, Magi Sison and Sena.

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Ginebra assistant coach Allan Caidic said yesterday in his opinion, coach Rajko Toroman should stay with the national team.

 “I know what it’s like to play with the national team,” said Caidic who saw action on the last Philippine squad that won the FIBA-Asia title in 1985-86. “It takes a lot of sacrifice, preparation and hard work. I think coach Rajko has done a very good job and should stay as head coach but that’s just my opinion. I don’t know what direction Gilas will take in the future. What I observed was the Gilas focus was somehow derailed because (Greg) Slaughter had to play in the UAAP and there was a conflict in schedule with the PBA as Talk ‘N’ Text tried to get a grand slam.”

For the record, the Philippines had the third biggest jump in the latest FIBA world rankings, improving eight notches. The largest improvement was posted by Macedonia, up 14 rungs, and the second was Great Britain, up 13. The Philippines is now ranked No. 45 from No. 65 six years ago.