THE PBA Office’s door in Libis, Quezon City, closes at 5 p.m. today—and so is the chance for amateurs to make it to the pro league—at least this year.
Rookie hopefuls have until the end of office hours to file their applications for the annual Draft set for Sept. 7 at the Music Hall of the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay.
The likes of Kobe Paras, Fil-Am Remy Martin, Clint Escamis, Mike Phillips, Geo Chiu, and CJ Lane are just a slew of stalwarts that Asia’s pioneering pro league is waiting for to submit their documents and give the PBA a try.
Foremost among the prized talents 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, and 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.
For the 12 teams to size up the applicants, the PBA will hold the yearly Draft Combine next week to formally launch pre-season activities for its golden 50th anniversary.
The Combine, which gives the squads the avenue to assess the fitness and abilities of amateurs, is slated for Sept. 4 and 5 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig beginning at 9 a.m.
The two-day event serves as a warm-up to the proceedings where Terrafirma chooses the season’s No. 1 overall pick.
Dyip coach Raymund Tiongco cannot be reached for comment last night.
Phoenix, under newly-appointed strategist Willy Wilson, owns the second choice and said their sights are trained on tabbing a big man.
Lanky center Justin Baltazar was made the top selection by Converge last year.
A little over a month left before the season-opening Philippine Cup comes off the wraps on Oct. 5, the Combine and the Draft are sure-fire interesting events that will add spice before the cage wars begin.
