COUNT on the rookies to make their presence felt in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
That has been the case for most of the new entrants in the league in the ongoing PBA Philippine Cup “bubble” happening at Clark City in Angeles, Pampanga.
Now on its third week of staging, the ongoing league tournament has been an eventful one, with the performance of this season’s rookies among those standing out.
Barkley Ebona of the Alaska Aces, Adrian Wong of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, and Roosevelt Adams of the Terrafirma Dyip are having it solid to date.
Guys like Myke Ayonayon (NLEX), Sean Manganti (Northport), Arvin Tolentino (Barangay Ginebra), and Aaron Black (Meralco), meanwhile, are proving to be steady contributors in their respective teams’ rotation.
Number four pick Ebona from Far Eastern University has been steady for the Aces (3-3) with norms of 10.17 points and 3.5 rebounds.
He has been doing his share for the frontline of Alaska, which is missing the services of veteran big man Sonny Thoss, who decided to skip the ongoing tournament while also assessing his future in the league.
Mr. Ebona had his best game in his young PBA career on Oct. 20 against the Blackwater Elite where he had 24 points, on an efficient 10-of-11 shooting from the field, in leading his team to the 120-82 victory.
For his efforts in said game, the Cebuano player was adjudged the best player, the second rookie to accomplish such a feat in the bubble.
Mr. Wong, the fifth pick from Ateneo, meanwhile, has earned increased minutes as the tournament progresses for Rain or Shine (3-1).
He has been averaging 7.5 points and doing well as one of the playmakers in the rotation of coach Caloy Garcia.
Mr. Wong was the first to be named best player of the game in the bubble, which he achieved by scoring 15 points in their hard-earned 70-68 win over the Northport Batang Pier on Oct. 18. That led to him being named the first rookie of the week for the tournament.
The ROS rookie credits the confidence given to him by his coach and the team for his improving performance, something he hopes to continue building on.
Terrafirma has had hard luck so far in the Philippine Cup, winless in their first four games.
But one of the bright lights for the Dyip is the play of rookie top pick Adams, who has been good for 11.25 points and 7.75 rebounds.
By his own admission, he said he is still adjusting to the style of the PBA, but still has support of his teammates and coaches.
Messrs. Ayonayon (7 ppg and 3 rpg), Manganti (5.8 ppg and 3.4 rpg), Tolentino (6.4 ppg and 2.4 rpg), and Black (8.8 ppg and 2.2 apg) were initially eased into the swing of things but has earned minutes with their quality play.
Others rising to the challenge when called up include Clint Doliguez (ROS), Aris Dionisio (Magnolia), Will McAloney (NLEX), and Renzo Subido (Northport). — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
