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Wednesday, October 06, 2004
GMC nets ‘Shaq’
By ROMMEL C. MANLOSA
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
GENERAL Milling Corp. got Joseph Ronald Quiñahan as the No.7 overall pick, but failed to acquire another Cebuano yesterday in the Philippine Basketball Association Rookie and Dispersal Draft at the Makati Coliseum.
The 6-foot-5 Quiñahan, University of the Visayas’ prolific big man, will join the core players of the CBF’s General Feeds Mega Mix made up of Alfie Grijaldo, Jett Latonio, Dennis Concha, Chico Lanete and Rex Mangubat and ex-University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguar Ardy Larong in the predominantly Cebuano squad.
The GMC management is currently trying to strike a deal with Quiñahan, nicknamed “Baby Shaq,” who is also being pursued by Tribu Sugbu and the Cebuana Lhuillier-RP Team.
Former UV Baby Lancer Reed Friar Juntilla, on the other hand, was picked by Montaña Pawnshop in the dispersal pool. Juntilla’s former team in the PBL, Hapee Toothpaste, has disbanded.
The Jun Tan-coached GMC earlier expressed its intention of hiring Quiñahan and Juntilla.
Top pick
Meantime, the hottest player in the draft, 6-5 Gabby Espinas, who made history in the NCAA after taking both the Rookie of the Year and MVP awards, was drafted by Addict Mobile-Ateneo (formerly Lee Pipes) as the top pick.
“All we have to do now is to pick our former players or tap the free agency. For now I am eyeing to re-hire Jaymann Misola, who has already agreed to play for GMC again,” Tan told Sun.Star Cebu.
Misolas played for General Feeds Mega Mix in the CBF last season.
Tan also said the GMC management is currently negotiating for Karl Kenneth Bono of Montaña.
“Montaña will probably give him up because they already have a lot of big men,” Tan said.
GMC will have its first team practice on Oct. 11 but Tan is worried of the little time he has to get his team ready for the PBL Open Championships, which tips off on Oct. 23.
“Probably I’ll just have my Cebuano players start preparing while our addition from the UP Maroons will just follow later because they have their examinations,” said Tan, referring to UP’s Jireh Ibañez, Josant Cervantes, Jayfelson Agbayani, Artemio Almeda, Marvin Cruz and Abraham Santos.
“We don’t have a lot of time since I have the Cesafi to focus on while my other players are still in the NBC,” said Tan, who also calls the shots for USJ-R. (RCM)
(October 6, 2004 issue)
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