All eyes on point guards

Three six-foot point guards are expected to be picked early in the PBA draft on Sept. 7 with Jason Brickman, Dalph Panopio and Juan Gomez de Liaño considered blue-chippers who'll make an immediate impact on the league, no matter the teams that land them.

- JOAQUIN M. HENSON

Brickman, 33, is the pick of the lot. Like Caelan Tiongson and Stephen Holt who entered the draft in their 30s, Brickman is an experienced "rookie" with stops in Russia, Germany, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan and the Philippines for ABL and MPBL. His creds are outstanding. Brickman has won championships in high school, Thailand (thrice), Taiwan, ABL and Jones Cup (thrice). He's been described as another John Stockton.

At Long Island University in NCAA D1, Brickman dazzled the experts with his passing ability and ended his collegiate career joining Bobby Hurley, Chris Corchiani and Ed Cota as the only players to rack up at least 1,000 assists.