By CARLO ANOLIN
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial bared Thursday that the league is planning to hold its annual draft class selection on the second week of March next year.
Speaking to some sportswriters, Marcial said the start of application is set on Monday, Dec. 7 and the deadline would be on the last week of January for both local and Fil-foreign players.
This after the PBA Board of Governors discussed the plans for the 46th PBA Season, which is bound to open in April, a month after the 2020 PBA Draft originally eyed on January.
The 59-year-old PBA chief said he plans to hold a couple of meetings with the board as well as the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SB) regarding the Gilas pool relegation and other agenda as the coronavirus pandemic remains a threat.
In the 2020 class, Isaac Go (Terrafima), Rey Suerte (Blackwater), Allyn Bulanadi (Alaska), brothers Mike (Rain or Shine) and Matt Nieto (NLEX) were all picked for the special Gilas draft batch. The five were also included in the 15-man pool that represented the Philippines in the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers over the week.
“So magme-meeting pa ‘yun. Pag-uusapan pa kung paano sistema so kaya hindi ko maiklaro pa sa inyo kung papaano,” added Marcial. “Kailangan malaman [muna] namin kung sino papasok by March.”
Among the potential players who will headline the 2020 draft class are Chooks-to-Go 3×3 members Joshua Munzon, Alvin Pasaol, Troy Rike and Santi Santillan as well as San Miguel Alab Pilipinas guard Jason Brickman and De La Salle standout Jamie Malonzo.
“Pumasok sila sa PBA,” Marcial said of the 3×3 players. “Pag nakapasok sila sa PBA, naglalaro sila sa 5-on-5, kung ang tournament natin ay in between conferences, puwede silang sumali. Tataas pa rin ‘yung puntos nila.”
The PBA chief also announced that the pre-requisite for the PBA D-League has been scrapped, which makes an easier road for players especially for Fil-foreign talents.
Per the original rules, local players need to suit up for at least seven games in one PBA D-League conference while Fil-foreign cagers must play at least seven games in both Aspirants’ and Foundation Cups.
However, local players should be 21 years old on draft day, be a college graduate or four years removed from high school graduation while Fil-foreign players must secure respective documents from the Department of Justice and Bureau of Immigration to prove their Filipino citizenship.
