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Tiebreaker Times

2015 PBA Draft: Know some of the applicants


[nextpage title = “UAxSLAM Draft Suite”]
The 2015 PBA Draft is just days away!

Tiebreaker Times was fortunate to be invited in SLAM Magazine’s Annual Draft Suite presented by Under Armour last Monday at Resorts World Manila in Pasay City. SLAM invited 14 draft hopefuls for a media scrum days before their big day.

We asked the following hopefuls some questions for you to get to know them more:

2015 PBADRAFT HOPEFULS

Aljon-Mariano-300x199 2015 PBA Draft: Know some of the applicants  - philippine sports newsAljon Mariano

University of Santo Tomas
Shooting Guard/Small Forward
6’3
Jumbo Plastic

Maverick-Ahanmisi-300x199 2015 PBA Draft: Know some of the applicants  - philippine sports newsMaverick Ahanmisi

University of Minnesota
Guard
6’2
Café France

Garvo-Lanete-300x199 2015 PBA Draft: Know some of the applicants  - philippine sports newsGarvo Lanete

San Beda College
Point Guard
6’1
Hapee

Troy-Rosario-300x199 2015 PBA Draft: Know some of the applicants  - philippine sports newsTroy Rosario

National University
Power Forward
6’6
Hapee

Art-dela-Cruz-300x199 2015 PBA Draft: Know some of the applicants  - philippine sports newsArt dela Cruz

San Beda College
Forward
6’4
Hapee

Glenn-Khobuntin-300x199 2015 PBA Draft: Know some of the applicants  - philippine sports newsGlenn Khobuntin

National University
Small Forward
6’4
Cebuana Lhuiller

Baser-Amer-300x199 2015 PBA Draft: Know some of the applicants  - philippine sports newsBaser Amer

San Beda College
Point Guard
6’0
Hapee

Simon-Enciso-300x199 2015 PBA Draft: Know some of the applicants  - philippine sports newsSimon Enciso

Notre Dame de Namur University
Point Guard
5’11
Cebuana Lhuiller

Chris-Newsome-300x199 2015 PBA Draft: Know some of the applicants  - philippine sports newsChris Newsome

Ateneo de Manila University
Shooting Guard/Small Forward
6’2
Hapee

Moala-Tautuaa-300x199 2015 PBA Draft: Know some of the applicants  - philippine sports newsMoala Tautuaa

Chadron State
Center/Power Forward
6’7
Cagayan Valley/Cebuana Lhuiller

Josan-Nimes-300x199 2015 PBA Draft: Know some of the applicants  - philippine sports newsJosan Nimes

Mapua Institute of Technology
Small Forward
6’3
Café France

Scottie-Thompson-300x199 2015 PBA Draft: Know some of the applicants  - philippine sports newsEarl Scottie Thompson

University of Perpetual Help System
Point Guard
6’1
Hapee

 

First question: Who did you pattern your game to growing up? >>
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TBTimes: Who did you pattern your game to growing up?

Aljon Mariano: Nung bata ako si Reggie Miller talaga. Yung shooting niya yun yung ginagaya ko kasi nung bata ako, maliit ako e. Bigla ako tumangkad. Nung huli si Lebron James na kasi kahit physical yung game niya, sobrang versatile niya. Kaya niya bumantay ng multiple positions.

Maverick Ahanmisi: Used to be Kobe Bryant because he’s such a lethal scorer. Now, it’s Stephen Curry, he’s an excellent floor spacer and he creates well for his teammates. On defense, it has got to be Chris Banchero. He locks down really well on the person he’s guarding.

Garvo Lanete: Actually wala talaga e. Dami ko kinokopya nun pero di ko magawa. Nagdevelop na lang ako ng sarili kong style

Troy Rosario: Siguro dun sa dalawang idol ko, si Ranidel de Ocampo and Marc Pingris. Combination ng offense at defense.

Art dela Cruz: Mac Cardona. Sa kanya ko pinattern yung hook shot ko. Sobrang angas ng laro niya parang ang ganda tignan. Yung aura din niya sa loob ng court kahit malalaki kalaban, iba ang kumpyansa niya.

Glenn Khobuntin: Wala e. Kasi ang hirap gayahin nung mga taga-NBA at PBA kaya gumawa na lang ako ng sarili kong diskarte.

Baser Amer: Kevin Alas [he jokingly said as Alas passed by]. Jimmy Alapag talaga since bata pa ako. Iba yung leadership na pinapakita niya sa court.

Simon Enciso: Kyrie Irving, Chris Paul. I watched a lot of Chris Paul highlights, like coming off the pick and roll. Also Derick Rose and Stephen Curry.

Chris Newsome: Of course growing up in the States I watched nothing but the NBA. Allen Iverson was one of those guys that changed my life. I watched him play and thought he was the greatest. I also look up to people like Russell Westbrook and Derick Rose. And of course Michael Jordan, he’s the GOAT.

Moala Tautuaa: While I was growing up I did not play basketball. I was a football player back in high school. I only started playing basketball back in 2005.

Josan Nimes: I don’t pattern my game to anyone really but I watch NBA the most. I watched a lot of Allen Iverson so I have that flash in my game. That’s the way I played growing up.

Scottie Thompson: Siguro sila Jayson Castro and Cyrus Baguio and sa NBA si Kobe Bryant talaga.

Second question: Best moment so far in his basketball career >>
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TBTimes: What is your best moment so far in your basketball career?

Aljon Mariano: Yung UST-Ateneo Game 1 nung UAAP Season 75. Yun yung first finals game ko. Ang ganda ng nilaro ko nun kaso natalo. Ang sarap nung feeling nung Finals nay un kasi galing ako sa injury nun.

Maverick Ahanmisi: My entire PBA D-League opportunity. The experience gave me a winning mentality that I could bring to the PBA.

Garvo Lanete: Yung mga championships ko sa San Beda, sa Gilas, and sa D-League. Pero ang pinaka nagstandout is yung sa Jones Cup. Iba yung pakiramdam na marepresent yung country and nagchampion pa. Ang dami din naturo sa akin ni kuya LA [Tenorio] nun on and off the court.

Troy Rosario: Yung championship namin sa NU. 60 years yun [drought] e. Underdog kami papasok ng season tapos nagchampion.

Art dela Cruz: Yung 2013 NCAA championship namin against Letran and [Raymund] Almazan. Actually, every year but yun yung best for me. [Art dela Cruz won the NCAA Season 89 Finals MVP in that series]

Glenn Khobuntin: Nung nagchampion kami sa NU tapos napili ako sa SEA Games. Tuloy-tuloy kasi yun e.

Baser Amer: Personally, from high school to college, nag champion ako e. Pero if magchampion kami this season yun yung pinakaspecial. Para buong stay namin sa Beda, champion.

Simon Enciso: I have a couple of records in the college I went to. I scored 33 points in one game, which was the highest in 40 years. In the same game, I had eight three-pointers which was a record as well.

Chris Newsome: In high school, I won the state championship in my Junior year. Back in New Mexico Highlands University, during my freshman year, we had the biggest turnaround in NCAA history in all divisions. You can’t take that away until someone beats it.

Moala Tautuaa: I just got the MVP for the PBA D-League so that’s probably the biggest basketball accomplishment I have.

Josan Nimes: In Australia, I played in one of the top Juniors’ teams. In high school, back in the States, I was top 40 in my position in the state of Arizona. Then, in my junior and senior years, I was in the first team all-state.

Scottie Thompson: Yung naging part ako ng Gilas team sa SEA Games. Iba talaga yung feeling na daladala mo yung bansa mo.

Third question: Are you scored or excited about the PBA? >>
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TBTimes: Are you scored or excited about the PBA?

Aljon Mariano: Ako chill lang naman. Kasi sinabi na sa akin ng mga naging teammate ko sa UST tulad nila Jeric [Teng] na huwag isipin kung anong pick ka makukuha. Madidisappoint ka lang pagisipin mo yun sabi nila sa akin.

Maverick Ahanmisi: Really excited. I can’t wait to feel the atmosphere that the crowd brings in the big venues like Araneta [Coliseum] or the MOA Arena. Also the brotherhood that each team has in the PBA, I can’t wait for it!

Garvo Lanete: Excited. Di ko naramdaman yung excitement na ‘to last year kaya hindi muna ako nagpadraft. Gusto ko pag pumasok ako 100% ako.

Troy Rosario: Excited na kinakabahan siyempre. Excited kasi makakapasok na ko sa PBA pero takot din kasi professional na yun e.

Art dela Cruz: Excited na kinakabahan kasi future na ang pinag-uusapan. Ang PBA kasi for the long-term na hanggang magka-anak ka na at magka-asawa. Tapos yung makakalaban mo mga beterano na.

Glenn Khobuntin: Relax lang naman.

Baser Amer: Kinakabahan ako e kasi, yun nga, di ako naglalaro. So yung advantage nawala. Di ko rin alam kung makukuha ako or sinong team.

Simon Enciso: Excited, nervous, anxious. Probably more excited though.

Chris Newsome: I’m nervous and relieved at the same time. I’ve been waiting for this moment in my life for so long. The dream for every basketball player is to be a professional.

Moala Tautuaa: I’m excited for the draft and I wish the best for everyone. I’ve been looking forward to this for a year now. I’m ready.

Josan Nimes: I never really thought that I’d be here. It never crossed my mind when I was younger. I’m excited now but come two nights before, I’ll be nervous.

Scottie Thompson: Kinakabahan talaga na excited. Pero may kelangan pang patunayan din sa NCAA [at the same time].

Fourth question: Which team do you think will best utilize your talents? >>
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TBTimes: If the draft was reversed and you were to pick a team, who’d you choose?

Aljon Mariano: Star or Ginebra siguro kasi ang system nila gumagamit ng mga versatile players na madadala ko sa team. Puwede rin sa Globalport kasi iba na rin ang pinagsamahan namin ni Coach Pido [Jarencio].

Maverick Ahanmisi: I think Meralco just because coach Norman Black is a family friend. He’s a friend of my parents. But, I have not tried out for any team yet.

Garvo Lanete: Sa NLEX siguro. Kasi nung naglaro ako sa D-League, naglaro ako under Coach Boyet [Fernandez] so alam ko na sistema nila.

Troy Rosario: Hindi ko kayang sagutin yan [if he’d rather go to Talk ‘N Text or Mahindra]. Maliit lang kasi ang mundo ng basketball.

Art dela Cruz: Rain or Shine or Ginebra

Glenn Khobuntin: Maybe Alaska. Same kasi yung training camp pati yung mga coaches na nagtrain sa amin same din.

Baser Amer: Puwedeng sa Meralco or sa NLEX. Sa NLEX para makasama rin si Coach Jimmy [Alapag].

Simon Enciso: From the trials that I have gone to, I really like Talk ‘N Text but I feel like I’d be a good fit to Meralco. I’d like to play behind Jimmy Alapag, just to learn from one of the best point guards is something that I’d love to experience.

Chris Newsome: Maybe Ginebra. I’d actually like to play with Greg [Slaughter] because I never had a chance to. He graduated when I was playing for Ateneo.

Moala Tautuaa: I would pick a team who is most willing to work with me. Because I think I have a lot of tools but I need a coach who can bring it out. It’s utilizing it properly.

Josan Nimes: I have no idea actually. I haven’t tried out for any team because of the NCAA so everything’s up in the air.

Scottie Thompson: Purefoods/Star. Matagal ko na kasi gusto yung team na yun, kahit nung wala pa si Coach Tim [Cone]. Siguro dahil kay PJ Simon at Marc Pingris. Matagal ko na sila hinahangaan.

Last question: If you weren’t a basketball player what career track would you have taken? >>
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TBTimes: If you weren’t a basketball player what career track would you have taken?

Aljon Mariano: Flight attendant siguro kasi mahilig ako magtravel e. Puwede ring chef kasi mahilig ako kumain at magluto.

Maverick Ahanmisi: I’d probably play American football. I used to play back when I was in high school but I stopped since my mom didn’t want me to get hurt so I switched to basketball. It’s unfair that my little brother was allowed to play football by my mom.

Garvo Lanete: Working in the office siguro or handling a business.

Troy Rosario: Nung bata pa talaga ako gusto ko talaga mag sundalo. If ever na hindi ako naging basketball or volleyball player, gusto ko talaga maging sundalo.

Art dela Cruz: Businessman. Kasi yung mom ko may business sa Bulacan. Tutulong ako sa business namin pag hindi ako nagbasketball.

Glenn Khobuntin: Siguro manager ng isang business kasi yun yung degree ko e Business Management. Pero nung nasa province ako puwede ako mag pulis nun e. Criminology kasi yung school namin dun.

Baser Amer: Basketball coach.

Simon Enciso: I’d probably be a soccer player. I played from third grade to eighth. It was the same time I played basketball so I had to pick one. I played forward when I played soccer back then.

Chris Newsome: I wanted to be a music producer. Just be in the studio and work with artists, I like working in that environment. I found it when I was attending my other college in the states, I started attending music courses and the more I attended, the more I liked it.

Moala Tautuaa: I’d probably play football [American] but my coach back in college did not allow me to play two sports.

Josan Nimes: I’d probably be a personal trainer. Like a skills coach, one-on-one trainer, or probably be a coach.

Scottie Thompson: Siguro businessman, kasi marketing din yung course ko ngayon.
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