PBA to aspirants: D-League or Gilas

MANILA, Philippines - All PBA hopefuls must now go through the league’s developmental league – the PBA D-League – or serve the national team to be eligible for the annual PBA Rookie Draft.

The PBA board of governors has just passed this ruling, leaving no one excuse from first showing their worth in the D-League.

Under the old draft rule, only Fil-foreign players, 26 years old and below, were required to go through the D-League, needing to play a certain minimum number of games.

Stanley Pringle, at 27, jumped straight to the PBA as Globalport’s No. 1 selection in the most recent draft.

Meanwhile, Junmar Fajardo leads a big number of homegrown players making the pros without going through the D-League. From the Cebu collegiate league, the 6-foot-10 Fajardo brought his talent to the Asean Basketball League with San Miguel Beer then moved over to the PBA.

“Now everyone has to first showcase their skills and talent in the D-League,” said PBA media bureau chief Willie Marcial.

“The board wants the PBA hopefuls scouted very well by the PBA teams, and the board wants to improve the fan base of the D-League,” Marcial added.

The PBA expects bumper crops of rookies in the next few years with top prospects like Bobby Ray Parks, Arnold Van Opstal, Kiefer Ravena and Jeron Teng.

Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao certainly had his eyes set on the future in giving away No. 2 draft selection Kevin Alas.

Guiao said they also intend to deal away another player in exchange for a future pick.

Also for a future draft consideration, Globalport shipped out key player Jay Washington.

Unless he finds takers from somewhere else, Parks is expected to lead the PBA draft pool next year.

For the other top draft prospects, the other venue to go through other than the D-League is the Gilas cadet team that is to play in the 2015 SEABA and the succeeding SEA Games.

With Alas, Ronald Pascual, Jake Pascual and Matt Ganuelas joining the last PBA draft, one key player left in the Gilas cadet squad is Garvo Lanete.