Sixty-six aspirants have made it to the Philippine Basketball Association Rookie Camp to showcase their skills that would hopefully earn them a contract to play in Asia’s first-play-for-pay league.
Eleven of the participants in the seven-day activity are Fil-foreign. Notable among them is Josh Vanlandingham of Everett Community College, who played for Hapee Toothpaste in the Philippine Basketball League.
The 26-year old forward easily made a connection among local hoop fans because he happens to be the great grandson of Filipino Olympic medalist, the late swimming great Teofilo Yldefonso.
Day One of the Rookie Camp will be held at the Club 650 Gym in Libis, Quezon City from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will dwell mainly on physical tests and drills.
The next six days of the camp will focus on the playing ability of the aspirants, who will be divided into four teams and play a single-round elimination highlighted by a mini-championship game on Aug. 26. All games will take place at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.
Possible draft prospects among the local hopefuls are former UAAP most valuable player (MVP) Rabeh Al-Hussaini, NCAA counterpart John Wilson, Nonoy Baclao, Ford Arao, Jai Reyes, slam dunk king Elmer Espiritu, Jimbo Aquino, Marvin Hayes, Khazim Mirza, Rey Guevarra and RJ Jazul.
Those who fail to attend the Rookie Camp will not be included in the candidates’ list for the Annual Rookie Draft set on Aug. 29 at the Market! Market! Place in Taguig City.
Air21 owns the right for the Number One draft pick. [pr]
