A CLASS photo of the aspirants for the annual PBA Rookie Draft on Nov. 3. Pro league pundits say the batch represents a bumper harvest of the country’s most talented amateurs. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS / NUKI SABIO
Greg Slaughter towered over the other PBA Rookie Draft applicants yesterday, and it’s not just because of his height.
Putting his 6-foot-11 5/8 frame and albatross-like wingspan (85 inches) to good use, the former Ateneo stalwart and sure No. 1 pick also emerged with the highest reach (11 feet 6 inches) and the most 100-pound bench press (40) among the 77 hopefuls who were measured and strength-tested at Hoops Center in Mandaluyong City.
Benefiting from a month-long training in the United States, the 258 lb Slaughter showed his worth as top draft prospect by doing 50 situps, 62 pushups and 18 pullups during the biometrics testing of the record 85 applicants.
Barangay Ginebra will pick first during the PBA Draft on Nov. 3 at Robinsons Midtown in Manila followed by San Mig Coffee and Rain or Shine.
Expected to go to the Mixers is 6-5 5/8 Ian Sangalang, the 2012 NCAA MVP who led San Sebastian to the title that year.
The versatile Sangalang posted a 10-foot-10 vertical reach.
Rain or Shine is expected to make 6-7 3/4 Reymond Almazan of Letran as the No. 3 draftee. Almazan owns a 10-foot-11 reach.
Other top performers yesterday were 6-3 1/4 Paul Joseph Sanga, runaway winner in the situps category with 533.
Springy Justin Brian Melton did the most pushups with 104. He has an 11-foot-4 reach despite being only 5-9 5/8.
Mark Anthony Lopez topped the pullups contest with 53.
Others who sparkled were 6-7 1/4 Isaac Holstein, who matched Slaughter’s 11-foot-6 effort on his second attempt.
Fil-Hawaiian Maika Usita turned out to be the heaviest at 301 lb on a 6-7 frame.
Far Eastern University stalwart and reigning UAAP MVP Terrence Romeo was measured at 5-9 1/2, the same as his backcourt partner RR Garcia, the 2010 UAAP MVP.
Gunner Jeric Teng, who shone for University of Santo Tomas, was listed at 6-0 5/8.
Barako Bull will have the No. 4 and 5 picks and reports said coach Rajko Toroman is keen on Romeo, Garcia and Teng, with Arellano U 6-1 3/4 high-flyer James Forrester also on his radar.