At least five PBA draftees are set to join fellow Kapampangan players and coaches after being picked by various teams in the league Sunday night.
They join an already impressive cast of players and even coaches from the province that has produced several standouts, including the very first PBA Rookie of the Year awardee Gil Cortez of Toyota Comets in 1976.
From a field of 122 hopefuls, the Kapampangan draftees, whose domiciles were listed by FB Page Kapampangan Ballers, include Jun Roque of Lubao town and Joshua David of Angeles City. They were drafted by Rain or Shine whose Coach Yeng Guiao is also a Cabalen from Magalang town.
John Manalang of Arayat and Neil Tolentino of City of San Fernando were picked by Converge FiberXers owned by billionaire Dennis Anthony Uy of Angeles City. They will also be playing for a newly appointed Kapampangan coach in Dennis Pineda, now vice governor of Pampanga. The NLEX Road Warriors picked John Capulong of Apalit town.
On the other hand, a former member of so-called Delta Boys who played for Pampanga Giant Lanterns emerged as 11th pick by Ginebra San Miguel in the first round.
Sonny Estil who was MVP from PBA Draft Combine for Season 50 will join fellow Kapampangans in the most popular ballclub. They include Japeth Aguilar (Sasmuan), Stephen Holt (Angeles City) and Jayson David (Mabalacat). Former Kabarangay Jamie Malonzo is also from San Simon.
Other famous Kapampangan PBA players now include former Asia’s number one guard Jayson Castro, MPBL two-time MVP Justin Baltazar, Calvin Abueva and Ian Sanggalang.
Meanwhile, the appointment of Pineda as the new headcoach of Fiberxers was welcomed by PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial.
In a phone interview, Marcial said that Pineda has always been known for his passion for basketball.
“Yung passion nya laging andun at magaling sya sa basketball,” he said.
(Screenshots from Fastbreak, Abante, PBA Draft)
