Efren Reyes, a Lord, a Prince, a King, and a Gutierrez among PBA draft hopefuls
With 95 names entered, this year’s batch of PBA rookie applicants is the biggest in league history. It also boasts of some unique names and interesting trivia.
There is an Efren Reyes in the pool, pardon the pun. Earnest Efren Reyes is a 6-foot-2 guard from the Bulacan State University. Unlike the pool legend, he sports a complete set of pearly whites and showers after competitions.
The 2014 PBA Draft will include a pair of aces in Kevin and Kristoffer Alas. Sons of Alaska assistant coach Louie Alas, the guard and forward combo from Letran could end up being coached by their father again.
There are also two pairs of cousins in Gab and Jonathan Banal, sons of coaches Joel and Koy Banal, respectively. Incoming Team KIA head coach Manny Pacquiao applied with his cousin Rene and while the reigning WBO weltereight champion still doesn’t know where he’ll end up, he already expressed his intent to draft his cousin.
There’s also a pair of twins in Anthony and David Semerad of San Beda College. The PBA has seen brothers taking on each other with Dwight and Elmer Lago, Yancy and Ranidel De Ocampo, Chito and Joey Loyzaga, and Franz and Dindo Pumaren but this might be the first time the PBA will see twins guarding each other.
Another pair of brothers who applied are the towering Montemayor siblings, Jeff Richard and John Allen. Jeff Richard lists his height at six-foot-six while younger brother John Allen is a shade taller at six-foot-seven. Both played college ball at Jose Rizal University.
The upcoming draft is also packed with royalty with University of the East’s Lord Casajeros, Arellano University’s Prince Caperal, and Adamson University’s King Importante.
The sports and showbiz world combined anew as Ritchie Paul Gutierrez, son of Eddie Guttierez and Anabelle Rama, joins the draft a year after actor Ervic Vijandre was selected by Rain or Shine.
Two record holders are also in the list. Keith Agovida once scored 82 points in a single game to set a record in the Juniors Division of the NCAA. Hazel Foja on the other hand is a Guinness World Record Holder. He was a part of the selection that set the record for the longest basketball game ever played.
