Happy Birthday, Arnold Gamboa ( May 1 )

Happy Birthday, Arnold Gamboa

Source : Assorted Magazines (PBA Archives Collections)

1996 PBA Rookie Draft 4th overall pick
2x PBA champion 
SMB reserve center

LIKE Sunkist and Alaska, Sta. Lucia Realty will be a virtual intact team when the PBA All-Filipino Cup fires off the league's 22nd Season this Feb. 18. Of the 14 players who suited up for the Realtors last year where they ended up tied with San Miguel Beer for the third-best overall win-loss record (behind the Orange Juicers and the Milkmen), only Dindo Pastor will not be returning. Taking his place will be 6-foot-6 Arnold Gamboa, who is expected to reinforce Sta. Lucia's frontline which was carried by only three players last year Jun Limpot, Dennis Espino and Chris Jackson. The triple tower combination of the 6-foot-5 Limpot, the 6-foot-6 Espino and Gamboa may as well be the Realtors' answer to Ginebra San Miguel's much-vaunted frontline trio of 7-foot E.J Feihl, last year's top rebounder Noli Locsin and No. 1 rookie draft pick Marlou Aquino, who stands 6-foot-9. Gamboa, who inherited the starting center slot from ironically Limpot and Espino at Magnolia in the PBL last season, is also expected to help Sta. Lucia's rebounding woes. Despite having Limpot, Espino and Jackson averaging at least six rebounds each last year, the Realtors were the thirdworst rebounding team for the whole of 1995 with their 40.8 caroms per game, outhustling only Purefoods (39.2 rpg) and San Miguel (39.4) in the battle of the boards. Gamboa should also complete a solid frontline rotation for Sta. Lucia which should fit well with the plans of new head coach Adonis Tierra this year.