Tag: draft

Draft finally takes place; salary cap resolution to follow

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Thea Gagate–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

The first-ever PVL Rookie Draft happens Monday night at Novotel Hotel in Cubao, and the league can finally check off the first of two activities it wants to implement that would hopefully instill—and keep—parity across the field beginning with the upcoming Reinforced Conference.

Ex-La Salle standout and Alas Pilipinas middle blocking ace Thea Gagate looms as the No. 1 overall pick by ZUS Coffee, and unlike in the past when direct recruiting was allowed, the next 46 players in the pool will also go through the process of being drafted.

Unresolved salary cap

The second item in the PVL’s parity agenda remains to be unresolved at the moment, with the league and its team owners yet to come up with individual and team salary caps, something which is expected to be ironed out after the Draft.

“The good thing that I could see in the long-term is it brings out more excitement in the games. I hope that’s what the drafting does,” PVL commissioner Sherwin Malonzo told the Inquirer with a mix of Filipino on Sunday.

The PVL and the teams have agreed, however, on putting a cap on rookies, with the first five picks to be given a maximum of P150,000 on their first year. A uniform players contract (UPC), will also be asked of all teams for all its players, all of them to be submitted to the Games and Amusements Board and the Office of the Commissioner.

Other rules

Other than the UPC, the league has already discussed with the teams discipline regulations, team commitment agreements and code of ethics as early as December last year as the PVL looks to shift the calendar and start a new season in October and finish by September 2025.

League president Ricky Palou will soon propose a P50-million salary cap per year for each team.

“After the Draft ceremony, we’ll be sending out a survey to each team because based on the previous surveys, I think P50M [a year] is more or less okay,” Malonzo said. “It’s not too high, but it’s not too low also. It’s not an exorbitant amount for a yearlong program.”

The Draft proceedings will run until all of the 12 teams stop picking from the pool. INQ



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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.

As deadline expires, Draft pool suddenly becomes ‘interesting’

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Converge coach Aldin Ayo

Converge coach Aldin Ayo admitted that the late addition of talented prospects have made the process of selecting the top overall pick in the PBA Rookie Draft even tougher.

“The Draft has become interesting. It now has a deep pool,” Ayo told the Inquirer in Filipino as the deadline for applicants to submit their papers for the July 14 proceedings lapsed Thursday afternoon.

The PBA is set to release the full list of applicants on Friday, but interesting names cropped up before the league office closed at 5 p.m., with Filipino-American Sedrick Barefield and RJ Abarrientos announcing their entries.

That should require some soul-searching for Ayo and the FiberXers to pick the right man more than a week from now at Glorietta in Makati City, especially with names such as Justine Baltazar, Dave Ildefonso and Fil-Am Caelan Tiongson also part of the class.

Many see Baltazar as a sure first pick, given his talents and connections with the Converge franchise. But the entry of Barefield and Abarrientos could change that.

“They’ve been on our radar, but we will discuss with management on what our approach will be for the Draft,” Ayo added in Filipino.

The teams that will pick after Converge will then have a bevy of options, from Blackwater choosing second followed by Terrafirma, Phoenix and NorthPort, NLEX and Rain or Shine, which has the seventh overall acquired from the Bossing for the Rey Nambatac trade last February, and the eighth pick.

Highly touted prospect

Rounding out the first round are Magnolia, Barangay Ginebra, Philippine Cup champion Meralco and Commissioner’s Cup winner San Miguel Beer. The order was based on the teams’ positions during the two-conference Season 48, with 40 percent coming from the Commissioner’s Cup and 60 percent from the Philippine Cup.

Considered as a highly touted prospect, Barefield is taking his act to the PBA after coming off a campaign with the Taipei Fubon Braves, who competed in Taiwan’s domestic P.League+ and the East Asia Super League.

Barefield applied for the draft in 2022 and was projected to be among the top three picks, but encountered delays processing his Philippine passport.

Abarrientos, meanwhile, is set to follow the footsteps of his uncle, 1996 PBA MVP Johnny, after spending two seasons playing professionally in South Korea for the Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus of the Korean Basketball League.



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He later on moved to Japan for the B.League’s Shinshu Brave Warriors, who later released Abarrientos after the end of the 2023-24 season.

Converge has franchise find as Baltazar enters Draft

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Justine Baltazar. Photo from B.League

Justine Baltazar, the big man many see as Converge’s the top overall pick, officially threw his name in the PBA Draft on the eve of the deadline set by the league on Wednesday.

Baltazar formally submitted his application on Wednesday, joining notables who had put their names ahead of the Draft that will be held at Glorietta in Makati City on July 14.

Converge owns the right to select first after placing dead last in both the import-laden Commissioner’s Cup and Philippine Cup, winning just three out of 22 games combined.

Coach Aldin Ayo was not available for comment at press time. But he had said after the FiberXers’ final game of Season 48 that Converge intends to get someone who can turn things around.

“Hopefully we can get the players that would help us,” Ayo said then.

That may likely be Baltazar, whose versatility since his UAAP days at La Salle and impressive showing for Gilas Pilipinas three years ago in the Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers and Olympic Qualifying Tournament made him a potential game changer for Converge.

His connections with key figures within the FiberXers franchise also seems to make his selection a no-brainer, even if Dave Ildefonso, the former Ateneo hotshot in the UAAP, is reportedly considering joining the pool before the deadline lapses on Thursday.

Baltazar currently plays for the MPBL’s Pampanga team owned by Gov. Dennis Pineda, whose bid to become Converge’s team governor last year was thumbed down by the PBA board. The FiberXers eventually appointed Pineda’s son-in-law, Archen Cayabyab, to the post.

The 6-foot-9 standout was also handled in 2016 by Ayo, who steered La Salle to the UAAP championship. Baltazar also played in past international tournaments for Strong Group Athletics of the Lao family. Jacob Lao currently holds the role of Converge team manager.

Ildefonso, meanwhile, is set to play for SGA in the William Jones Cup, and will enter the Draft following a two-year stint with Suwon KT Sonicboom in the Korean Basketball League.

He also has a connection with Converge, where his dad, PBA great Danny, is part of Ayo’s staff.

Applicants have until 5 p.m. on Thursday to turn in their papers at the PBA Office in Libis, Quezon City. Once the official list is finalized, rookie hopefuls will take part in next week’s Draft Combine at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.



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Former Asean Basketball League player and Taiwan’s T1 League import Caelan Tiongson, Evan Nelle and CJ Cansino are among the other notable names already entered.

Bucks banking on long-term potential of young NBA draft picks

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Milwaukee Bucks 2024 draft picks AJ Johnson and Tyler Smith pose for a picture with head coach Doc Rivers and general manager Jon Horst at a news conference Tuesday, July 2, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

MILWAUKEE — If it wasn’t obvious enough already, the youth of the Milwaukee Bucks’ two NBA draft choices became apparent when second-round pick Tyler Smith discussed the origins of his love for bowling.

“I was in Vegas this year (and) there was really, like, nothing to do out there,” Smith said Tuesday during an introductory press conference for himself and first-round pick A.J. Johnson.

Bucks coach Doc Rivers’ stunned reply: “In Vegas?”

Smith explained that his status as a teenager didn’t give him much of an opportunity to sample the Las Vegas nightlife, so he and his friends often would spend their spare time at a bowling alley.

“Keep that mentality,” general manager Jon Horst responded.

READ: NBA: Bucks’ Patrick Beverley suspended four games without pay

The Bucks are banking on the likelihood that Johnson and Smith will have developed into key NBA performers by the time the two 19-year-olds have grown up.

Milwaukee appears to be in the latter stages of a championship window and can’t spend much in free agency due to salary-cap concerns. But rather than drafting players who spent a few years in college and could help right away, the Bucks took a chance on the long-term upside of Johnson and Smith.

“One of the things we liked about both of them is their work ethic and their drive,” Rivers said. “You can see, these two guys want to be great. They don’t want to just come in here and be potential players. They want to be players. Again, we just can’t wait to get to work.”

Johnson is a 6-foot-6 guard who initially committed to Texas in high school before bypassing college basketball and spending the last year in Australia’s National Basketball League, where he played just 7.7 minutes per game while competing with other pros.

Smith, a 6-11 forward, also went directly to the pros rather than playing in college and averaged 13.4 points for the NBA G League Ignite.

READ: NBA: Pacers oust Bucks for first playoff series victory in a decade

Whether either player will contribute much as a rookie remains uncertain.

“The main focus is really just working to a point where the coaches want to play us, like we can actually help the team win,” said Johnson, the 23rd overall pick in the draft. “So I guess we’re just trying to get to that as fast as possible, learn and get as good as we can possibly get, so we can get on the court as fast as possible and help the team win games.”

They’ll get the opportunity to work on a veteran-laden team with an experienced staff. Rivers’ core of assistants will include a couple of former head coaches in Darvin Ham (Los Angeles Lakers) and Dave Joerger (Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings).

Rivers said Johnson and Smith both possess a combination of skill and athleticism that should help them thrive.

“Now it’s our job to try to teach them the game, get them stronger, get them ready,” Rivers said. “But we have a head start. Both of them are excellent shooters. They just have skill to their game, and that’s what drew me to them.”

The Bucks need these picks to work out because they don’t have much draft capital in future seasons.

They currently don’t have any draft picks in 2025. They also traded their 2027 and 2029 first-round selections. Other teams have the right to swap first-round picks with them in 2026, 2028 and 2030.

That limits Milwaukee’s opportunities to boost its roster as the Bucks try to regroup after two straight first-round playoff exits.

The Bucks have surrounded 29-year-old, two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo with plenty of older players: Damian Lillard (33), Khris Middleton (32), Brook Lopez (36), Bobby Portis (29) and Pat Connaughton (31). The back half of the roster is full of players who are 24 or younger.

“We’ve got six returning core guys that we know are ready now to compete at a high level and take us to where we want to go,” Horst said. “We’ve got three returning young vets that contributed last year and should take another jump this year in MarJon (Beauchamp), AJ (Green) and Andre (Jackson Jr.). Chris Livingston had a great first year with us. He’s working his (tail) off and he’s going to be ready to contribute also.



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“And now we’ve got Tyler and AJ pushing them. And we’ve got three spots on our roster right now in free agency that we’re going to go and figure out the best balance in how they fit the rest of that group.”

Dave Ildefonso to declare for PBA Draft with his dad, bro in mind

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Dave Ildefonso during an open training with the Jones Cup bound Strong Group Athletics team. –SGA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Dave Ildefonso’s mind is set on the next step in his career and he has his family roots to thank for his decision.

After months of heavy thinking, Ildefonso has made up his mind to declare for the upcoming 2024 PBA Draft, wanting to follow the path of his father and brother’s n the league.

“I don’t have offers abroad and it’s been a dream of mine ever since I saw Tatay (Danny Ildefonso) playing in the PBA in every game. Of course, I want to follow his footsteps and try to achieve what he achieved,” explained the Ateneo product during Strong Group Athletics’ training at Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong on Tuesday.

READ: Dave Ildefonso missing home, weighing options aside from KBL

“Of course, I also want to go against my Kuya (Shaun) so I’ll apply for this upcoming draft. Only problem is I haven’t submitted my application yet.”

Ildefonso will be suiting up for Philippine-side SGA in the upcoming William Jones Cup in Taipei, Taiwan, later this month.

In the build-up to his stint with SGA, his contract with the Suwon KT Sonicboom in the Korean Basketball League expired, leaving him without a next step after his first professional run overseas.

READ: Dave Ildefonso says decision to play in Korea also benefits family, national team

A few months ago though, the younger Ildefonso was seen during a PBA game in support of his older brother Shaun during one of his games with Rain or Shine.

Back then, Dave admitted that he was ”weighing his options” as his contract with Suwon neared its end.

After several consultations, Dave decided that he wasn’t fit to play for the Sonicboom anymore because of his limited minutes.



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“As a player, if you’re realizing that you’re not being used in the last year of your expiring contract, you begin to think of the future. What’s next? Plan A or B,” he said. “We (me and Suwon) were trying to negotiate but the team went in a different direction.”

Before the end of his contract with Suwon, they lost the KBL Finals just a few days ago at the hands of KCC Egis in a 4-1 series.

Nathalie Ramacula chases childhood dream with PVL Draft chance

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PVL Draft aspirant Nathalie Ramacula. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — After her aborted UAAP stint, the Filipino-Canadian libero Nathalie Ramacula seeks to fulfill her childhood dream as one of the 47 aspirants hoping to be selected in the inaugural PVL Rookie Draft on July 8 at Novotel.

Ramacula flew all the way from Canada back to Manila as she tries to complete her unfinished business nine years after she last played in the country when she was 15 years old.

“I did my residency with UE, and then unfortunately, I was gonna be playing sa UAAP but then I had to go to Canada,” Ramacula told reporters in the Draft Combine on Wednesday at GameVille Ball Park.

READ: Teams begin plotting PVL Draft strategies

Veteran setter Chie Saet discovered the Red River College Polytechnic product in Grade 8 before she went to UE. However, her collegiate stint in Canada was limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“My journey po, I started playing in grade 5. I got recruited by coach Chie Saet when I was in grade 8 then I went to Canada and I played to clubs there as well. I went to nationals as well and college,” Ramacula said. “Unfortunately, it was COVID so I had to stop for a bit and then I had to come back again for PVL.”

Despite the pitstops in her volleyball career, Ramacula won’t stop chasing her dream to play in the PVL even though she attended the Draft Combine still feeling the effects of jet lag. 

LIST: Applicants for the first ever PVL Rookie Draft

“I applied because this is my dream like my big dream kasi since bata pa po ako ito na po or yung UAAP yung pinaka dream ko so I’m thankful po na [nabigyan ng chance magpadraft],” she said. “Hopefully, I did best because I’m a bit jetlagged kasi po three days ago kakarating ko lang din po so medyo I’m still adjusting sa time.”

“What I can offer is my big motivation po like I can motivate each one of the team as well. Being a [vocal] libero I hope to give my best for the team.”

Ramacula is one of the two Filipino-Canadian players with libero Aleiah Torres of Brock University, hoping to be part of the 12 PVL teams in the Reinforced Conference starting on July 16.



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NBA teams with flurry of trades on second day of draft

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Kyshawn George walks to the back of the floor for an interview after being selected 24th by the New York Knicks during the first round of the NBA basketball draft, Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

NBA teams made up for the lack of trade action during the league’s first night of its first two-day draft with a flurry of moves Thursday.

Only three proposed trades came Wednesday night with no deal official until July 6, when the league’s new year begins.

Moves came fast and furious Thursday, even after the draft concluded as teams swapped players, cleared some cap space and traded around lots of picks, especially for future drafts still to come.

 LIST: 2024 NBA Rookie Draft first round picks

The New York Knicks announced they had finalized trades with Washington and Oklahoma City, acquiring the 26th and 51st overall picks from Washington for the draft rights to Kyshawn George taken at No. 24 overall on Wednesday night.

The Knicks then sent the draft rights to Dillon Jones, selected at No. 26 on Wednesday night, to Oklahoma City for five second-round picks.

New York made yet another move Thursday. The Knicks acquired the No. 34 pick from Portland, which was involved in one of Wednesday’s trades sending Malcolm Brogdon to Washington, in exchange for second-round picks in 2027, 2029 and 2030.

The Knicks got the draft rights to guard Tyler Kolek out of Marquette. He led all Division I players with 7.7 assists per game. The 6-foot-3 guard was the Big East Player of the Year in 2022-23. Last season, he averaged 15.3 points, as well as those 7.7 assists.

Portland also was involved in another trade featuring a wild turn of events.

READ: Bronny James, LeBron’s son, picked by Lakers in NBA draft

The Warriors reached agreement on a planned trade of the 52nd pick to Oklahoma City for guard Lindy Waters III, then the Thunder dealt the pick to Portland — only for the Trail Blazers to send it back to Golden State. Once finalized, the Warriors will acquire Boston College center Quinten Post.

The Miami Heat announced Thursday night they acquired the rights to Pelle Larsson, taken at No. 44, along with cash from Atlanta as part of a three-team deal with Houston. Atlanta also got the draft rights to Nikola Djurisic, picked at No. 43. The Hawks also sent AJ Griffin to Houston for that 44th selection.

A person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press the Charlotte Hornets acquired guard Reggie Jackson and three future second-round picks from Denver in a move that will open up salary cap space for the Nuggets.

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Thursday because the trade can’t take affect until after the new league year begins. Jackson played in all 82 games last season for Denver and averaged 10.2 points and 3.8 assists while shooting 36% from 3-point range

Indiana made a deal with San Antonio to move up one spot for Kansas forward Johnny Furphy at No. 35.

The Hawks made French teen Zaccharie Risacher the No. 1 overall pick in the draft Wednesday night in what had been Atlanta’s only pick in the draft before Thursday’s trade. Trading Griffin, a 2022 first-round pick, helps to clear playing time for Risacher.

Dallas swapped its 58th pick to the Knicks for the draft rights to 6-foot-8 Melvin Ajinca of France after he was taken at 51 overall.



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Detroit made a couple of moves, agreeing to acquire the draft rights to Bobi Klintman after Minnesota took the forward at No. 37. The Pistons were listed as taking UConn’s Cam Spencer at No. 53 overall, but Memphis made a deal with Minnesota moving up from 57 overall.

Petro Gazz looking at best available players in the draft

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Petro Gazz coach Koji Tsuzurabara and head of operations Oliver Almadro during the PVL Draft Combine. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Petro Gazz is leaving no stone unturned with the opportunity to get solid acquisitions from the PVL Draft aspirants and free agents who attended the first-ever Draft Combine this week.

Head of volleyball operations Oliver Almadro said Japanese coach Koji Tsuzurabara took a long hard look at the 47 rookies as well as the 11 free agents to help the Angels in their ‘three-peat’ bid in the Reinforced Conference on July 16.

Although Petro Gazz is picking 10th in the first round, Tsuzurabara had perfect attendance in the two-day Draft Combine at GameVille Ball Park — even the morning session with the free agents.

LIST: Applicants for the first ever PVL Rookie Draft

Almadro said their head coach ranked the players during the combine, seeking to pick the best available in their 10th and 20th picks. 

“We’re lookin’bg at who’s the best available players in every position. We will talk about what position will be fit for our team for the next few conferences, for the next years. But Coach Koji’s happy and he’s really ranking every player, every position,” the Petro Gazz executive told reporters.

“These players are talented. Some players nga, hindi pa nakita in the UAAP. Some of them are in the NCAA, and some of them are in the provinces. It just shows that there are really, really lots of talent here in the Philippines. We just have to provide exposure for them to compete with Manila teams.”

Almadro, who coaches the University of the Philippines in the UAAP and Letran in the NCAA, said the pro teams can’t count out the NCAA players and other aspirants from provinces and even abroad. 

READ: Brooke Van Sickle puts PVL on notice with impressive Petro Gazz debut

“For the UAAP, NCAA, I guess it’s about time na magkaroon ng joint league para malaman talaga ‘yung (level of play). Sometimes, ‘yung NCAA, na-uunderrate eh. We know naman that the UAAP is at a much higher level but you cannot underestimate kasi the NCAA players, the provincial players kasi talagang the volleyball here in the country is really growing. The level’s going up,” he said.

Petro Gazz is coming off a bronze finish in the All-Filipino Conference with Brooke Van Sickle emerging as the MVP in her PVL debut.

The Angels are seeking to complete their third straight Reinforced Conference reign, two years after Lindsey Vander Weide led them to a golden repeat.



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“The coaches and the team are really excited going to this conference. We cannot count out other teams. Other teams have good imports also. They have talented players, they are intact,” Almadro said. “Malaking bagay na umabot kami ng Final Four last conference so it’s really a good challenge for us going into this conference. Sana ma-sustain namin ‘yung record or ‘yung laging nagagawa ng Petro Gazz.”

Maicah Larroza has added motivation heading into PVL Draft

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PVL Draft aspirant Maicah Larroza from La Salle during the Draft Combine. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Maicah Larroza has some extra motivation heading into the inaugural PVL Rookie Draft with her La Salle teammates Thea Gagate, Leila Cruz, and Julia Coronel among this year’s top prospects.

Gagate is set to be ZUS Coffee’s choice for the No.1 pick and Cruz and Coronel are expected to be picked, but Larroza is not taking it as a source of additional pressure, but rather as motivation.

“Of course, added motivation because they’re my teammates, I also want to play at their level,” said the versatile aspirant, who enjoyed with her batchmates in the two-day Draft Combine at GameVille Ball Park. 

LIST: Applicants for the first ever PVL Rookie Draft

“I really enjoyed this PVL Draft Combine, especially knowing that some of the players I used to compete against were there. I felt very comfortable and the process went smoothly for me.”

Larroza, a substitute wing spiker in her playing years for La Salle, is bringing all the things she learned from coach Ramil De Jesus, who fully supported their decision to enter the PVL draft.

“Coach Ramil always teaches us about discipline, determination, hard work, and perseverance. He encourages us to explore constantly and reminds us to enjoy the things we love,” she said.

READ: PVL: Petro Gazz looking at best available players in the draft

“I told my coach, ‘, I’m going to enter the draft,’ while I was still wearing my toga. We attended the thanksgiving event to say goodbye properly, and we parted ways on good terms.”

Now that she’s moving on to a new chapter of her career, Larroza offers her versatility as she can play on both ends as spiker and libero. 

“It depends on the team that picks me whether I play as an outside hitter or libero. I’ll embrace any role they give me,” Larroza said. “I can offer my teammates the assurance that they can rely on me every time I step onto the court, whether leading the offense or defense.”



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