Draft deadline looms; will stars sign up?
There’s one more day left for the PBA Rookie Draft to receive a much-needed shot in star power.
The league will close its door to applicants for the annual selection party at the end of office hours on Friday, with its current roster of potential rookies needing more big names for the event that will take place on Sept. 7 at SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.
At least 40 applicants have already applied, and while there is talent in the Draft pool as it stands, big names are not as common.
Juan Gomez de Liano, Jason Brickman, Will Gozum and Dalph Panopio are among the familiar standouts who have submitted their applications for the Draft, which will see lowly Terrafirma picking first.
Phoenix will have the second pick, followed by Blackwater, NorthPort, NLEX, Magnolia, Meralco, Converge, San Miguel Beer, Rain or Shine, Barangay Ginebra and Rain or Shine (from TNT) in the first round.
There is the hope—however slim it may be, as intimated by Inquirer sources—that a last-minute change of heart will see the likes of DJ Fenner, Kobe Paras, Geo Chiu and CJ Lane, signing up for the draft.
Fenner had expressed interest in taking his act in the PBA after playing for Strong Group Athletics in the William Jones Cup while Paras has been training recently following a sabbatical from basketball.
Paras, however, did express on social media that he felt off with the PBA’s new ruling that slaps a three-year ban on free agents and draftees who will sign overseas or in other local leagues. But there’s curiosity if the one-time Japan B.League import decides to make a U-turn.
Former Ateneo and Gilas Pilipinas mainstay Chiu and Lane, a 6-foot-10 big man, are currently playing in the MPBL.
Among the recent applicants came from the NCAA with Yukien Andrada and several of his San Beda teammates and Tony Ynot leading a group of those coming from College of St. Benilde.
Clint Escamis, who led Mapua’s run to its long-waited NCAA title last season, opted to skip the Draft.
Current UAAP players who can suit up at the end of Season 88 won’t be joining the Draft after the collegiate league turned down the PBA’s request to allow them to apply before or during the season without losing their eligibility.
The UAAP’s stand has been in existence for decades, which is a stark contrast to the NCAA, which allows its players to join the draft on the condition that they can’t sign any contracts until the end of the varsity season.
