By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Two Negros Occidental-based players were among the record 128 aspirants who submitted their applications for the PBA Season 48 Rookie Draft at the Market! Market! in Taguig City on Sunday, September 17.

Jhan Nermal of Negros Occidental’s Hinigaran town and Bacolod City-native Jan Gabriel Sobrevega are among the rookie hopefuls who want to jump to the big league.

Nermal was a former West Negros University Mustangs standout before he was signed by the San Miguel Beermen for the PBA 3×3 tournament last year.

His Beermen stint opened the doors for him to join the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), playing for his hometown squad, Bacolod Bingo Plus, before transferring to Bacoor City Strikers.

For his part, Sobrevega was a former member of the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors and played for the NorthPort Batang Pier in the PBA on Tour.

Apart from Nermal and Sobrevega, three more Western Visayas-based cagers in Ilonggos Jeric James Pido and Omar Larupay, and Capiznon Hero Amante Tomilloso had applied for the draft.

The Iloilo City-native Pido is a former member of the Mapua University Cardinals in the NCAA before moving to MPBL via Rizal XentroMall Golden Coolers.

The Iloilo province’s Lambunao-native Larupay was previously with the UE Red Warriors in the UAAP and Lyceum of the Philippines Pirates in the NCAA.

The 6-foot-2 Larupay, a former team captain of the CenterPhil Montessori Silver Knights, is also a homegrown player for the Iloilo United Royals in the MPBL.

Meanwhile, Roxas City-native Tomilloso was also a former member of the Red Warriors and has also played in numerous leagues in the country.

Chances of the final list being pruned down is possible depending on the outcome of the two-day Draft Combine at the Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong today./ASC, WDJ