Rookie picks Espiritu, Vanlandingham get maximum P8.7-M pact each

Nonoy Baclao and Rabeh Al-Hussaini are the top two picks in the recently-concluded PBA Rookie Draft. But fellow newcomers Elmer Espiritu of Alaska and Fil-foreign Josh Vanlandingham of Rain or Shine will be given the same maximum contract just like the two highly-touted rookies from Air21. Espiritu, the No. 4 overall pick, and Vanlandingham, the No. 5 choice, will each receive P8.7-million for three years from their respective mother teams. This was revealed by Charlie Dy, who manages both players, to GMANews.TV. The 6-foot-4 Espiritu will join the newly-crowned Aces and fill the void left by Larry Fonacier, who was unloaded due to salary cap issues. Fonacier was traded to the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters for the rights on the No. 4 pick overall. The Aces used that pick to get Espiritu, a high-flying, former slam dunk champion in the UAAP. Vanlandingham, on the other hand, made a good impression in his first two days of practice with the Elasto Painters. Vanlandingham was signed up by the Elasto Painters along with Ryan Araña, Jeff Chan and Eddie Laure. Araña and Chan were re-signed for another three years while Laure was given a one-year extension. Over at the Barangay Ginebra camp, Ronald Tubid was given a fresh one-year contract so as Paul Artadi and Jonathan Fernandez with B-Meg Derby Ace. Meanwhile, Barako Bull has acquired the services of Marvin Cruz, who was released by Powerade. - JVP, Rey Joble, GMANews.TV