THE road to the PBA’s golden anniversary begins in Pasig.
In a big lead-up to the annual rookie Draft set for Sept. 7, the pro league will hold the yearly Draft Combine next week to officially kick off pre-season activities for its landmark 50th year.
The Combine, which provides teams the avenue to assess the fitness and abilities of rookie hopefuls, is slated for Sept. 4 and 5 at the Ynares Sports Arena beginning at 9 a.m.
The two-day event serves as a prelude to the proceedings at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall at 5 p.m.
Around 40 players have so far applied for the Draft, a day before the deadline for submission at the end of office hours tomorrow.
Among the marquee names available are Fil-foreign guards Juan Gómez de Liaño, Dalph Panopio and Jason Brickman, former NCAA MVP Will Gozum, LJay Gonzales of Far Eastern University, Ateneo’s Chris Koon, Christian Manaytay of University of Santo Tomas, College of St. Benilde’s Mark Sangco, among others.
Latest to apply for the draft are former UAAP 3×3 MVP CJ Austria and La Salle teammate Joshua David, Letran’s Vincent Cuajao and Arthur Roque, Perpetual Help’s John Cedric Abis, Justine Guevarra of University of the East, the Blazers’ Jake Gaspay, and Neil Jay Tolentino of Arellano University.
Terrafirma owns the season’s No. 1 overall pick, followed by Phoenix.
Justin Baltazar was the top selection by Converge last year.
The likes of Kobe Paras, Fil-Am Remy Martin, Clint Escamis, Mike Phillips, Geo Chiu, and CJ Lane are keenly-awaited on whether they will make the jump to Asia’s pioneering pro league.
Aside from the Draft Combine, the pre-season work continues for the league after a community work by spearheading the barangay court refurbishment yesterday at Barangay Bidang in Caloocan.
The PBA50 Court Refurbishment Project was made possible in partnership with Rain or Shine paint and co-presented by ArenaPlus.
Commissioner Willie Marcial graced the program proper along with Rain or Shine standouts Adrian Nocum and Anton Assistio, together with Elasto Painters’ assistant brand manager Red Magcase.
