Pharex eyes Fil-Am in PBL Rookie Draft

MANILA, Philippines – The Pharex Medics are likely to make Fil-Am Chris Ross as their No. 1 pick when the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) holds its Rookie Draft on Tuesday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City. Pharex manager Jean Alabanza said on Thursday that the team is looking for a guard who can give it the needed poise and stability, and they believe Ross can provide it when the going gets tough. "We really need to boost our backcourt rotation," Alabanza said. He hopes that under the leadership of Ross the team will finally bloom this season. In the last conference, Pharex did score several big wins, including a victory that ended the 10-game winning streak of Harbour Center. But it has not yet made it to the Final Four since joining the league last year. Ross, a product of Marshall University in Texas, is likely to create a lot of mismatches since he stands at 6-foot-2. "We already talked, I just hope we can reach a deal," Alabanza said. "We will have an advantage at the guard spot if we get him because he’s quite tall." He added that they are determined to rebuild the team to be at par with the league giants like Harbour Centre and Hapee Toothpaste. Meantime, the aspirants for the Rookie Camp slated for Friday (September 26) at the Jose Rizal University Gym in Mandaluyong City have reached the 130 mark following the entry of several players from Ateneo de Manila Univeristy, Mapua Institute of Technology, and Far Eastern University. The training camp, to be supervised by former PBA player Joey Guanio, will run from 8 a.m. to noon. Interested players can still submit their application form on the day of the training camp at the venue. Toyota Otis, which owns the No. 2 pick, is likely to go for a big player, while Magnolia is likely to tab a wingman following the departure of Bonbon Custodio. Burger King, which is dead serious in making it to the finals this time, will pick at No. 4 followed by Hapee Toothpaste, Harbour, and Bacchus Energy Drink. Players from NCAA finalists San Beda and San Sebastian are also expected to submit their applications for the Rookie Draft today. If their title series ends on Friday, they may likely to join the Rookie Camp. Also set to join the Rookie Draft are Joseph Deas, a 5-foot-11 guard from Rockhurst University, and Jason Jackson, a 6-foot-2 guard who played for Western New Mexico. Also joining the Rookie Camp are Fil-Ams Josh Vanlandingham, Anthony Davis, and Edwin Torres Jr.; Fil-Australians Christopher Pails, Reighner Macasaet, and John Rowe; Fil-Canadians Keith Erwin Cayanong and Janzen Castillo; Fil-Arab Khalif Fortune; and Fil-German Thomas Wagner. - GMANews.TV