PBA to set draft parameters

The PBA Board of Governors will be convened for a critical meeting on Monday to decide on how to align the coming draft with SBP’s developmental program for Gilas, looking forward to the 2023 FIBA World Cup which the Philippines is co-hosting with Japan and Indonesia.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said at the moment, nothing is set in stone as to Gilas’ participation in the draft to be held at Robinson’s Place Manila on Dec. 8. It’s possible that the top picks may be placed in the Gilas pool for year-round training so they will play for the PBA teams that drafted them only upon release from the national team.

The deadline for draft applications for Fil-foreigners and locals is 5 this afternoon. The Fil-foreigners deadline was extended from Oct. 23 to allow more time for securing Bureau of Immigration certification and Department of Justice confirmation of their dual citizenships. As of yesterday, there were 44 applicants, including eight Fil-foreigners.

Initially, 10 Fil-foreigners signed up but Troy Rike and Franky Johnson withdrew to focus on their 3x3 commitments with Chooks To Go. The remaining Fil-foreigners are Roosevelt Adams, Vince Tolentino, Daryl Singontiko, Sean Manganti, Mark Taylor, Jason Riley, Adrian Wong and Travis Thompson. Tolentino and Wong played for Ateneo while Manganti suited up for Adamson. 

Among the locals who submitted applications were Matt and Mike Nieto and Isaac Go of Ateneo, Wendell Comboy of FEU, Jerrick Balanza and Bonbon Batiller of Letran, Chris Bitoon of MLQU, Rey Suerte of UE, Edgar Charcos of Perpetual, Kent Salado of Arellano, Allyn Bulanadi of San Sebastian and Cris Dumapig of St. Clare.

Marcial said another draft will be conducted in January, this time for the PBA’s 3x3 tournament to begin in March, coinciding with next season’s opening. “For the 3x3 draft, the Board is considering no previous PBA D-League experience and no age restrictions,” he said. “We will still require Bureau of Immigration certification and Department of Justice confirmation for Fil-foreigners. Those not picked on Dec. 8 will be given priority in the 3x3 draft. As a one-time incentive, we will allow players chosen in the 3x3 draft to be elevated as regular players with their PBA teams.”

The PBA was involved in the FIBA 3x3 World Tour in 2014 and 2015. The players were Terrence Romeo, Aldrech Ramos, K. G. Canaleta, Rey Guevarra in 2014 and Calvin Abueva, Vic Manuel, Troy Rosario and Karl Dehesa in 2015. In this year’s Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, the Philippines will be represented in the 3x3 men’s event by PBA players C. J. Perez, Jason Perkins, Mo Tautuaa and Chris Newsome.

Because the PBA has no regular 3x3 tournament, there are no PBA players in the top 50 3x3 national rankings. In the Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) for 3x3 set in India in March next year, each four-man lineup must include two players in the top 3x3 national rankings. The other two must be in the top 50 or claim at least 54,000 points in the FIBA 3x3 individual honor roll as of June 22, 2020. To enter the OQT, a country must be in the top 24 in FIBA’s world 3x3 standings based on the world ranking points of its top 100 players and 3x3 activity of each federation.

Last year, SBP joined forces with Chooks To Go to generate 3x3 activity and the partnership resulted in boosting the Philippines’ FIBA ranking from No. 60 to No. 48 to No. 24 to No. 20, making the cut for the OQT. Based on SBP’s 3x3 individual rankings, Joshua Munzon is No. 1, Alvin Pasaol No. 2, Rike No. 3 and Santi Santillan No. 4. Others in the top 10 include Dehesa, Dylan Ababou, Leo de Vera and Chris de Chavez.