Fil-Am guard raises eyebrows at PBA Rookie Camp
A half-Filipino point guard stole some thunder at Monday morning’s Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Rookie Camp at the Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong City by displaying his phenomenal leaping ability.
Justin Brian Melton, born in Angeles City to an American father and a Filipina mother, made his presence felt when he touched the 11’4” mark in the vertical leap drill.
The drill required the aspirants to jump twice and tap the highest measurement they could with their fingertips. Melton, a former Gilas recruit who hails from Mount Olive College In North Carolina, reached 11 feet flat on his first jump and 11’4” on his second jump.
Only consensus top overall pick Greg Slaughter and Fil-Am power forward Isaac Holstein submitted higher leaps, with both big men reaching 11’6”.
The 26-year-old Melton, who was officially measured at five feet, nine and five-eighths inches, also topped the push-ups drill with 104 consecutive push-ups. He saw action in the ASEAN Basketball League last season and is projected to be an early- to mid-second round pick.
Ateneo’s Slaughter, who is expected to be picked by Barangay Ginebra in the draft set on November 3 at Robinsons Place Manila, was the tallest among the 77 aspirants who showed up, measuring six feet, eleven and five-eighths inches.
He was followed by Letran’s Raymond Almazan (6’7 ¾”), Ateneo’s JP Erram (6’7 3/8”), Holstein (6’7 ¼”) and another Fil-Am John Usita (6’7”).
VIEW: Scenes from the 2013 PBA Rookie Camp
The stocky Usita, who hails from Maui, Hawaii, was the heaviest aspirant, weighing in at 301 pounds. Slaughter also had the longest wingspan, measuring 85 inches, with Usita coming in a close second with 83 inches.
Far Eastern University’s Paul Sanga topped the sit-ups drill with 533 sit-ups, while University of the Philippines’ Mark Lopez had the most pull-ups with 53. In the bench press drill, University of Perpetual Help’s Janno Barronda had the most repetitions with 60, followed by Slaughter with 40.
Just like last year, the camp focused solely on biometric testing, with no scrimmages. Of the 85 players who submitted their applications, eight did not show up: National University’s Mark Joseph Berry, Ateneo’s Ryan Buenafe, UST’s Japs Cuan, Mapua’s Jumiel Chen, SSC’s Franz Ian Delgado, UST’s Carlos Tenequito, La Salle’s John Vijandre, and San Beda’s Jess Mar Villahermosa.
However, Buenafe’s agent Matthew Manotoc told Yahoo! Phillippines that the former Blue Eagle forward has been down with the flu for the past few days, but has no intention of withdrawing from the draft. Although attendance at the rookie camp is mandatory, an aspirant may be excused so long as he has a valid reason.
Big men Slaughter, Ian Sangalang and Almazan are expected to go 1-2-3 in the draft, with guards Terrence Romeo, RR Garcia, James Forrester, and Jeric Teng tipped to also go in the first round.
After Ginebra, San Mig Coffee and Rain or Shine pick second and third, followed by Barako Bull picking three times in a row. The Energy Cola’s consultant Rajko Toroman remained tightlipped on the club’s three picks, simply saying “We’ll see who’s still around.”
