source: Joel Orellana | businessmirror.com.ph
Rico Maierhofer, Purefoods Tender Juicy’s No. 2 overall selection in this year’s rookie draft, looms as the top candidate for top rookie honors in the Philippine Basketball Association.
A Purefoods rookie has not won the award since Isabelo “Jojo” Lastimosa in 1988, and all eyes are now on Maierhofer, especially after lanky forward Japeth Aguilar was traded by Burger King to Talk ’N Text which then loaned him to the national developmental team.
“Hindi ko pa muna iniisip ’yan. Masyado pang maaga. My goal is to help my team win more games at sana mag-champion kami this conference,” said Mairhofer, who amassed a total of 23.1 statistical points (SPs) average after the first round of eliminations.
The six-foot-five forward was actually the only rookie in the top 30 of the Best Player of the Conference race.
“Besides, it’s too early to tell. Marami pang puwedeng mangyari. Focus ko lang muna ang matulungan ang team,” the native of Puerto Galera added.
Alvin Patrimonio, the league’s four-time Most Valuable Player (MVP) and now the team manager of the Giants, was beaten by teammate Lastimosa in the Rookie of the Year race because his entry in the pro was delayed by a contract dispute with his ball club in the amateur league.
James Yap, the MVP of the 2005-06 season, also failed to win the honor when he entered the league in 2004, as Richard Alvarez, the No. 1 pick of the draft, helped Shell to respectable finishes despite a depleted roster in that season.
Maierhofer was No. 2 in scoring among rookies after the first round with 9.44 points per game (Barako Bull’s Ogie Menor was top at 10.44 ppg) and topped the rebounding department with 7.22 boards per contest. His 1.56 blocks per game not only topped the rookies but also ranked third overall behind Burger King’s JR Quinahan (1.67) and Tropang Texters’ burly center Ali Peek (2.22).
Surprisingly, Mairhofer’s closest rival was Sta. Lucia Realty’s back-up point guard Joshua Urbiztondo, undrafted in the last rookie draft who found a home with the Realtors.
Urbiztondo compiled 16.2 SPs average to finish second among rookies and he was followed by Menor (14.0), No. 4 overall pick Jervy Cruz of Rain or Shine (13.6) and Ronnie Matias of Burger King (12.4).
Coca-Cola’s Chris Ross, the third overall pick in the draft, was sixth with 11.9 SPs average.
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galing talaga ng THE KITE!
GALING TALAGA NI RICO
GALING
Sayang wala si Japeth... sinu si japeth? kahit pala nandyan si japeth si rico pa din pala Rookie of the year......
-GLOBEGILAS-
Syempre wala c Aguilar sya talaga #1 rookie baka nga di pa eh.
He is the Rookie of Year that turned his back on serving the national team and the national interest.
How many are like him in this country who prefered personal interest above the interest of his/her country.
hay.. bat kasi di mo tinanggap sa gilas? looking forward pa nman ako makita ulit tandem ni the kite at baby faced assassin. hehe mas nabatak ka sana rico! anyway pwede na rin go go go!
sna maglaro na rin yan s asian games, ksama c norwood at dillinger...my 2 months cla 2 prepare in joining the team 4 asian games...
-Real Gilas United F.C.
wala yan, hirap ky matt freije yan,,,
oi GLOBE GILAS marunong ka bang mag analyze sa stats nila Japeth at Rico kahit san tignan mas magaling at mabilis si Japeth kaysa kay Rico. eh si rico minsan hindi na pinaglalaro pag nasa critical na laro ang purefoods.