Ex-Ateneo hotshot and Gilas mainstay Kiefer Ravena leads 21 other rookies that join the traditional parade of teams during the opening rites of the PBA 43rd season at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday.
Meanwhile, former top draft pick Mike Cortez and KG Canaleta are among the players that will be with new teams while Ronald Pascual are among those coming back from hiatus.
Ravena, the No. 2 pick behind Christian Standhardinger in the recent PBA Rookie Draft, will be one of two new faces in the NLEX Road Warriors team, the other being offseason trade recruit Michael Miranda.
Raymar Jose of Blackwater, Jason Perkins of Phoenix Petroleum and Jeron Teng of Alaska Milk are the other high-profile rookies while Standhardinger will still have to complete his tenure with the Asean Basketball League before joining San Miguel Beer.
GlobalPort is the team showing up in the new season with the most number of freshmen in Julian Sargent, Michael Vincent Juico, Lervyn Flores and Joseph Angelo Gabayni.
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Blackwater, Kia and TNT KaTropa enlisted three rookies each.
Jose, Emil Renz Palma and Kyle Drexler Neypes are the newcomers for the Elite, Jonjon Gabriel, Jan Jamon and Roldan Sara for the Picanto and Mark Tallo, Monbert Arong and Sydney Onwubere for the Texters.
Other new faces are Jett Manuel for Barangay Ginebra, Jam Cortez for Phoenix, Robert Herndon for Magnolia, Rey Nambatac for Rain or Shine and Louie Vigil for San Miguel Beer.
Then there will transferees and returnees.
Cortez and Canaleta are among the most prominent names to bring their act with new teams.
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Left unsigned by GlobalPort, Cortez rejoined Blackwater. Ditched by the Elite, Canaleta, meanwhile, moved over to Meralco.
Ronald Pascual, the third pick in the 2014 draft, is to resurface in the league via the Alaska Milk team. This former San Sebastian standout had brief stints with San Miguel Beer, Star, GlobalPort and Blackwater.
Meanwhile, Yousef Taha rejoins GlobalPort while Arthur dela Cruz will finally suit up with Barangay Ginebra after a recovery from an injury.
Others jumping over to new teams are Chris Javier (Blackwater), Nico Elorde (GlobalPort), Kelly Nabong (GlobalPort), JR Reyes (Kia), Rashawn McCarthy (Kia), Dylan Ababou (Kia), Ronald Tubid (Kia), Nico Salva (Meralco), Jason Ballesteros (Meralco), LA Revilla (Phoenix), Justin Chua (Phoenix), Jaypee Mendoza (Phoenix), Billy Mamaril (SMB) and Chico Lanete (SMB).
