Tag: Abarrientos

Justine Baltazar, RJ Abarrientos lead PBA Rookie Draft aspirants

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FILE– Justine Baltazar is vying for a spot in a PBA team. UAAP PHOTO

Seventy players submitted applications to take part in the PBA Rookie Draft set July 14 at Glorietta in Makati City, the league said Friday.

Justine Baltazar, Sedrick Barefield, Dave Ildefonso, RJ Abarrientos, Caelan Tiongson and Kai Ballungay were among the prominent names expected to be the top picks from the list which has a significantly fewer number of aspirants than last year’s record field of 128.

Converge owns the top pick followed by Blackwater, Terrafirma, Phoenix, NorthPort, NLEX, Rain or Shine with two picks, Magnolia, Barangay Ginebra, Meralco and San Miguel Beer.

Baltazar was initially tagged as a cinch of being chosen by the FiberXers, but the entry of other fancied talents may shatter those expectations.

READ: As deadline expires, PBA Draft pool suddenly ‘interesting’

Other familiar players were able to turn in their draft papers, namely Jerom Lastimosa, Ben Phillips, Evan Nelle, CJ Cansino, Jonnel Policarpio, Paolo Hernandez, Mark Nonoy and Brandon Ramirez.

The list could be trimmed after next week’s draft combine at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City as the league will screen all requirements submitted.

Applicants are mandated to take part in the two-day combine, provided they have valid excuses.

READ: Converge has franchise find as Justine Baltazar enters PBA Draft

Barefield, Tiongson and Ballungay are among the 19 players listed by the league as Filipino-foreigners, needing only to submit a Philippine passport to be eligible.

Other draft applicants are Roel Alcaide, Peter Alfaro, Ronelle Jordan Arciaga, Jordan Bartlett, Darwish Vince Bederi, Romulo Victor Berjay, Jared Brown, CJ Catapusan, Miguel Corteza, Jason Credo, Mark Neil Cruz, Lugie Cuyos, Robbie Darang, Franz Diaz, Miguel Johannes Educalani and Martin Enriquez.

Francis Escandor is also joining the draft along with Patrick Feliciano, Aaron Matthew Garcia, Alfren Gayosa, Bill Geolingo, Ahmad Didat Hanapi, Pao Javillonar, Jeff Daniel Jose, Felix Lemetti, Pio Longa, JP Magullano, Germy Mahinay, Michael John Malonzo, Agem Miranda, Derohn Mitchell, Chino Mosqueda, Avan Nava, Toan-Anh Nguyen, Khenn Osicos, Adrian Partosa and Francis Patricio.



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CJ Payawal, David Kenneth Penney, Keith Pido, Jayson Puray, Jielo Razon, Kurt Reyson, Ralph Robin, Ronan Santos, JP Sarao, Abdul Wahad Sawat, Jade Talampas, Xyrus Torres, John Lawrence Uduba, Conner Verdugo, Marko Adonis Villorente and Denzel Wong complete the list.

RJ Abarrientos nursing hurt foot ahead of Jones Cup stint

On: By: admin


RJ Abarrientos during an open training with the Jones Cup bound Strong Group Athletics team. -SGA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—RJ Abarrientos may not quite be a hundred percent in Strong Group Athletics’ run in the upcoming William Jones Cup.

The Japan B.League Filipino import bared on Tuesday at Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong that he’s been in pain after a freak injury that occurred during one of his home workouts in preparation for the looming tournament.

“I worked out in front of our house. Long story short, I stepped on broken glass while I was training and I even thought I tore my achilles. It was kind of scary,” said Abarrientos.

“When I saw that it was just a deep cut, I went to the ER and I got the results right away, they put five stitches on my foot and I even thought I was out.”

READ: RJ Abarrientos seeks improvement after first B.League season

Thankfully though, Abarrientos wasn’t ruled out like he expected to be.

After undergoing some minimal procedures, the Shinshu Brave Warrior was given the green light to start training with the squad under coaches Charles Tiu and Rajko Toroman.

However, Abarrientos was still imping from time to time during Tuesday’s scrimmages.

READ: RJ Abarrientos carries no pressure from KBL to B.League

Fortunately for him, the SGA’s coaching staff is taking it step-by-step for him to be completely ready for the Jones Cup.

“That’s the word. They’re not rushing me. They just want me to get my rhythm back,” Abarrientos said.

Whether Abarrientos recovers completely before the tournament or not, SGA will have quite the reinforcements with collegiate guards Titing Manalili from Letran and Tony Ynot from College of St. Benilde.

And Abarrientos is confident that the young guns in the backcourt will be of big help come tournament time.



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“I think the coaches have plans for Ynot and Titing that’s why they took them. Me, I’m a fan of them. I already saw their skills in the NCAA.”