By JONAS TERRADO
It appears that the talent-rich PBA Rookie Draft will lose some potential first-rounders in Jason Brickman, Brandon Rosser and Jeremiah Grey.
Agent Charlie Dy, who represents the three players, said the PBA thumbed down their draft applications after failing to secure recognition from the Bureau of Immigration and affirmation from the Department of Justice.
Dy also said in former PBA commissioner Noli Eala’s program Power and Play that Brickman, Rosser and Grey are likely out of the draft proceedings set March 14, unless the league makes a quick decision on changing its requirement for Fil-foreign players.
“Nag-submit kami ng application ni Brickman, Rosser and Grey, but I got a message from the PBA and they said they are not eligible until they submit those requirements,” Dy said during the program that aired Saturday morning on ONE PH.
“Actually, hindi na siya aabot (requirements). With the pandemic, they can’t even fly here. Hindi pwede , so we have to wait until next year,” added Dy.
The league is requiring both the approval of the two government agencies in order for Fil-foreign cagers to enter the draft.
But Dy said that changes may be needed in order for legitimate Fil-foreigners to enter the draft.
“If you go to the Consular Office and if you’re a natural-born Filipino and as long as your parent is Filipino, you just have to report your birth. You get a PSA birth certificate and at the same time you can apply for a Filipino passport,” said Dy.
“Pero ang sabi din ni (PBA legal counsel Melvin Mendoza), that’s not the requirement kasi yung rule ng PBA is the recognition and affirmation pa rin. Until the board changes it, yun pa rin ang masusunod,” added Dy.
Of the three, Brickman is a potential high draft pick given his impressive stints in the ASEAN Basketball League with the Westports Malaysia Dragons, Thailand’s Mono Vampire and San Miguel Alab Pilipinas which is owned by Dy.
Grey and Rosser also had stints with Alab in last year’s ABL that was cut short because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
