Falcons soar in PBA Draft as Lastimosa, Hanapi turn pro
Date Posted: July 16, 2024 at 01:36 PM
Soaring Falcons alumni Jerom Lastimosa and Didat Hanapi are on the way to the pros after being selected in the 49th Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Rookie Draft held at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati, July 14.
Lastimosa was the 9th overall pick by the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots, reuniting him with fellow former King Falcon in Jerrick Ahanmisi.
Ahanmisi and Lastimosa were teammates in the Falcons’ Nest in UAAP 81 when the secon-seeded Falcons then led by the likes of Sean Manganti and Rob Manalang succumbed to University of the Philippines in the Final Four.
With the Hotshots, the Dumaguete native will be under the tutelage of champion coach Chito VIctolero, and veterans Mark Barroca and Paul Lee.
Hanapi, meanwhile, was drafted 17th overall by Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, although succeeding reports revealed that the draft rights for the former Adamson wingman will be traded to the Terrafirma Dyip.
The Zamboanga City-native still had playing years in the UAAP but elected to turn pro, playing for the Manila _ in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League before applying to turn pro with the first pay for play league in Asia.
