Rookie hopefuls showed up in full force for Day 1 of the 2011 PBA Rookie Camp with some big names from Smart-Gilas and the D-League and a sprinkling of unknowns showing up their counterparts in the skills test held at the Club 650 gym in Libis, Quezon City.

Speedster Mark Barroca, seen as a high to mid-first round pick in the 2011 Rookie Draft, recorded the most number of push ups at 107. Another Smart-Gilas National Jason Ballesteros tied with PBA D-League Most Valuable Player Allein Maliksi for the highest vertical leap, reaching the bar at 11 feet and 2 inches.

Cebu-born Julius Pasculado topped two categories, emerging the fastest of the group with a clocking of 6.19 seconds in the 50-meter sprint and making 19 of 25 shots from different points on the floor in the shooting drills. Smart-Gilas players, however, did not participate in the shooting drills, having just come from practice.

Another D-League standout, Pamboy Raymundo, settled for 2nd in the shooting drills with 18 shots made.

Filemon Fernandez was No. 1 in situps with 301 while Nino Nabong topped pull-ups with 28.

Former University of the Philippines center and one-time Smart-Gilas member Magi Sison is the tallest in the 36-player field at 6 feet 6 ¾ inches. Ballesteros was measured as second tallest at 6 – 6 ¼ but he had the longest wingspan at 82 inches.

Christopher Concepcion is the smallest applicant at 5-foot-8.

The pool will be divided into two teams which will play each other in Days 2 and 3 of the Camp with the PBA coaches keenly assessing the talents up for grabs in the Rookie Draft on Sunday at the Midtown of Robinson’s Place Manila.

The Powerade Tigers own the No. 1 overall pick and high on their list is JV Casio, who is fast earning a reputation as one of the best guards in Asia. 

source: PBA


note: The 2011 PBA Draft will be on Sunday, August 28, 4pm @ Robinson's Place, Ermita, Manila. It will be shown 7pm on AKTV ch 13. (via PBAconnect)