Baloria, Acidre lead standouts in Day 1 of PBA Draft Combine

Who impressed during Day One of the 2014 Gatorade PBA Draft Combine at the Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong City?

Former Arellano University Chiefs point guard Rocky Acidre and current University of Perpetual Help Altas shooting guard Juneric Baloria impressed in Team A’s 44-22 win over Team B.

Acidre scored 11 points in addition to dishing two assists and stealing the ball once. The hot-shooting Baloria was more efficient from the field shooting hitting four of five attempts for 9 points while adding four rebounds and three assists as opposed to 1 turnover. 

Jackson Corpuz of PBA D-League team Derulo also wowed coaches with his athleticism and his ability to get to the rim. Corpuz finished with seven points on three for four shooting and three rebounds, one steal and one block.

Corpuz was supposed to suit up for the Philippine Christian University in the NCA but when the college was suspended and kicked out of the league for various infractions, he opted to play in the commercial leagues.

In Team C’s 36-29 win over Team D, former Adamson University Falcons sniper Roider Cabrera tallied 11 points and two rebounds.

Fil-Am forward Franklin Bonifacio who plays for Big Chill in the D-League and Cabrera’s Adamson teammate Rodney Brondial tallied 10 and eight points respectively in a losing cause.

Brondial also pulled down the most rebounds of the camp’s two scrimmages with nine boards.

Fil-American Chris Banchero, who shone in the sports tests by topping every single category, was held to two points in Team C’s effort although he assisted on three baskets.

Other PBA hopefuls who gave a good account of themselves included Gab Banal, son of Barako Bull assistant coach Koy Banal; Junjun Alas, son of Alaska Aces assistant coach Louie Alas, Kevin Ray Espinosa, Clark Bautista, Jericho Cruz and Lester Tyrone Dickens.

Unable to show their wares were former Perpetual Help Alta George Allen and former San Beda Red Lion Rome dela Rosa, who pulled out of the scrimmage due to some minor injuries.

No-shows on Day One of the Gatorade PBA Draft Combine included Perpetual Help’s Justine Alano, College of Saint Benilde’s Jeremy Bartolo, Philip Coronel, Francis Luigi Bercede, Richard Cole, and Arnold Adorme. Arellano University Chief Keith Agovida pulled out of the draft over the weekend.

Spotted in the Gatorade PBA Draft Combine were coaches and officials from Globalport, Rain or Shine, KIA, Blackwater, Alaska, NLEX, Meralco and Barako Bull Energy.