Syd Salazar
Jan 211 min
Being the alma mater of Alvin Patrimonio, Atoy Co, and Freddie Hubalde, as well as PBA stars like Romulo Mamaril, Ricky Relosa, Leo Isaac, Vic "Rambo" Sanchez, Benny Cheng, Kevin Ramas, and current Magnolia head coach Chito Victolero, one would think that Mapua's rich basketball culture would never take a pitfall in the PBA.
But it did.
A season before the 2003 PBA Draft, the Cardinals had a Top 3 pick in Omanzie Rodriguez. Mapua also had a slew of Final Four appearances. However, for some reason, the PBA teams aren't buying their rich championship tradition. Players like Erwin Sta. Maria and Jerby Del Rosario never got out of the holding area. There was a five-season draft drought after the 2002 PBA Draft. Kelvin Dela Pena, their NCAA MVP, failed to score a first-round spot. In fact, from 2003 leading to the 2023 PBA Draft, Josan Nimes is the only Cardinal to secure a first-round selection.
So what am I talking about?
Check this out.
LEGEND:
ON BLACK: DRAFTED PLAYERS WHO HAVE PLAYED IN THE PBA
ON RED: PLAYERS WHO WERE DRAFTED BUT NEVER GOT TO PLAY IN THE PBA