Slam dunk champs join PBA draft

MANILA, Philippines–Two slam dunk champions just added their names to the growing list of former collegiate standouts who made themselves available for the 2010 PBA Rookie Draft.  University of the East’s Elmer Espiritu and Letran’s Rey Guevarra, who alternately won the slamdunk crown in the UAAP-NCAA All-Star games since 2005, submitted Monday their applications for the pro draft set on Aug. 29 at the Market! Market! mall in Taguig City. Espiritu recently shared defensive chores with Ateneo’s Nonoy Baclao–who also submitted his draft application last week–during the Philippine Patriots’ championship run in the Asean Basketball League early this year. The 6-foot-4 Espiritu copped the UAAP Mythical Team and Defensive Player of the Year awards during his five-year stint with the Warriors, whom he helped lead to the finals twice. Guevarra, who also won a slamduk title in the PBL, is a member of the Smart Gilas national team.   Other former varsity stars in the draft roster are Jimbo Aquino, the Finals MVP in San Sebastian’s 2009 NCAA title run, NCAA season MVP John Wilson of Jose Rizal University, University of Santo Tomas’ Khasim Mirza, University of the East’s Pari Llagas, Letran’s RJ Jazul, La Salle’s Peejay Barua,  San Beda’s Bam Gamalinda, Arellano’s Gio Ciriacruz and Philippine Christian University’s Liztian Amparado.