PBA hopefuls to take part in Draft Combine

MANILA, Philippines – PBA teams will have a last look at the draft hopefuls during the Gatorade Draft Combine on Wednesday and Thursday at the Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong.

Activities in Day One include anthropometry tests (basic measurement like height, weight and arm span), functional movements and performance tests (agility, speed, endurance and strength).

Day Two will feature a mini-tournament with the players divided into eight teams. PBA assistant coaches have been invited to call the shots for the teams fighting it out for the championship and a cash post of P50,000.

“This undertaking is a must for all applicants so I hope everyone will be there. For the coaches, this gives them the chance to assess their prospects for Sunday’s Draft,” said PBA commissioner Chito Narvasa.

A draft applicant who fails to attend the mandatory activity risks being dropped from the final list of candidates for the 2015 PBA Rookie Draft.

Talk n Text is No. 1 in the draft order as a result of a midseason trade deal with Blackwater where the Texters dealt away their own first-round pick plus veteran player Larry Rodriguez.

With all the previous trade deals, Kia is picking second overall, followed by Rain or Shine (acquired from NLEX), Meralco (from Globalport), Barangay Ginebra (from Barako Bull), NLEX (from Ginebra), Meralco, Star, Blackwater (from Talk n Text), NLEX (from San Miguel), Alaska and Rain or Shine.

In the second round, Blackwater picks first, followed by Kia, Rain or Shine (from NLEX), Ginebra (from Globalport), Globalport (from Barako Bull), Alaska (from Ginebra), Rain or Shine (from Meralco), Barako (from Star), Alaska (from Talk n Text), Barako (from SMB), Alaska and Rain or Shine.

Meanwhile, Talk n Text and Globalport are working on a trade deal involving Jay Washington and Denok Miranda.