Ex-Eagle Chiu literally biggest name to beat Draft deadline
Big names like Kobe Paras, DJ Fenner and CJ Lane were not among the 128 players who have entered the PBA Rookie Draft slated Sept. 7 at SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.
A check from the league said that Paras and Lane were not among the last-minute applicants that came before Friday’s deadline at the PBA office in Libis, Quezon City, while Fenner has opted to possibly join next year
One familiar standout, however, will join the proceedings in Geo Chiu, who played for Tab Baldwin at Ateneo and Gilas Pilipinas and is currently with MPBL title contender Abra Weavers.
Sources said the 6-foot-10 Chiu was literally the last applicant to submit his documents before the league closed its office at 5 p.m.
The quantity of hopefuls, though appearing to lack some of the marquee standouts, especially with the UAAP declining the PBA’s request to allow graduating players to join the Draft without losing their eligibility for the upcoming Season 88, turned out more than what was initially feared.
Chiu joins Juan Gomez de Liano, Jason Brickman, Will Gozum and Dalph Panopio as among those expected as early picks in the Draft, which will start with Terrafirma selecting its latest No. 1 choice.
How Terrafirma handles its hold on that top pick will pique some interest from now until the Draft, especially with its recent moves.
The Dyip have reportedly tapped Ronald Tubid as their new coach, replacing Raymond Tiongco, who handled the squad for the final two conferences of the previous season.
Tubid will be given the coaching role after he was previously Terrafirma’s team manager and later as part of Tiongco’s staff.
Terrafirma last week dealt the rights of Javi Gomez de Liano to Magnolia in exchange for Jerrick Ahanmisi and this year’s second-round pick.
Phoenix is second to be 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.
The league will hold a Draft Combine on Sept. 4 and Sept. 5 at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City, where teams can have a close-hand look at prospective picks.
Other notables who have entered the Draft are San Beda’s Yukien Andrada, College of St. Benilde Tony Ynot, ex-Far Eastern University and current Quezon Huskers guard LJ Gonzales, former University of the East Red Warrior Jack Cruz-Dumont and Ateneo products Chris Koon and Sean Quiteves.
Paras initially bared his interest in joining the Draft, two years since his last playing stint in Japan’s B.League. But the PBA’s new rule on banning free agents who will leave overseas or in other local leagues appeared to have turned off the one-time University of the Philippines mainstay.
Fenner had also expressed his desire to join the league, and has been under the radar following his SGA appearances in the William Jones Cup. But his SGA coach, Charles Tiu, said on X that the 31-year-old decided to make a go at it next year.
