PBA to resolve draft issues
The PBA Board of Governors will convene for its regular monthly meeting on Oct. 24 to tackle issues related to the draft on Dec. 8 with the Gilas program expected to be given priority in determining which players may be held back to train full-time in the national pool.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said nothing is sure about how the draft will be conducted until the Board decides on a working arrangement with SBP. It’s possible that the first 12 draft picks will be brought to the national pool and may play for the PBA teams that pick them only when they’re released. The withholding period is another subject of discussion.
What is certain are the deadlines to apply for the draft. Fil-foreigners with recognition from the Bureau of Immigration and certification from the Department of Justice to be issued Philippine passports may file their applications up to Oct. 23 while locals are given until Nov. 29. To be eligible for the draft, Fil-foreigners must have played at least nine games and locals at least seven in the PBA D-League. Exemptions will be made for Gilas veterans and players who are 27 and over. The minimum age for local draft applicants is 21 but if a player has graduated from college, is a Gilas veteran and played at least seven games in the D-League, he will be eligible even if less than 21.
The order of drafting will be based on how each team performed in the three conferences this season with the Philippine Cup given the highest weight of 40 percent and the Commissioner’s Cup and Governors Cup each at 30 percent. At the end of the recent Commissioner’s Cup, this is the drafting order – Columbian, NLEX, Meralco, Blackwater, Alaska, NorthPort, Phoenix, TNT, Magnolia, Ginebra, Rain or Shine and San Miguel Beer.
Because of previous deals, Rain or Shine gained two first round picks aside from its own. The Elasto Painters own Meralco’s pick from the Raymond Almazan trade and the lower of two Alaska slots from the Maverick Ahanmisi trade. Alaska plucked Phoenix’ pick from the Calvin Abueva trade and Columbian took San Miguel’s slot from the Christian Standhardinger trade.
Several first round prospects may not declare for the draft because of other offers. UE’s Alvin Pasaol, La Salle’s Santi Santillan and Ateneo’s Anton Asistio will reportedly skip the draft to stay with the Chooks To Go 3x3 program and play in the MPBL. Their combined salaries from 3x3 and MPBL will be higher than the PBA rookie cap. Joshua Munzon, Troy Rike and Franky Johnson may also go the 3x3 route.