Pasaol mulls draft option

MANILA, Philippines — Former UE star and Philippine national 3x3 player Alvin Pasaol is aware that if he skips the next PBA draft, it could mean a ban from ever suiting up in the pro league and with the Olympic qualifiers reset to 2021, a decision has to be made soon to lay the path for his future.

Pasaol, 25, was a hot PBA first round prospect last year but opted to dodge the draft to focus on his 3x3 career with Chooks To Go. Under PBA rules, an eligible player who skips the draft twice is subject to a ban.  However, PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial said the other day the ban is appealable to the Board of Governors. Thirdy Ravena, for instance, missed the draft last year but explained his situation to Marcial who brought up the case to the Board. It’s likely Ravena will join the next draft.

At the moment, Pasaol is committed to represent the Philippines in the Olympic 3x3 Qualifying Tournament in Bengaluru, India, next year. He also plans to play in the Chooks To Go 3x3 league which has been delayed because of the pandemic. Pasaol saw action for Zamboanga in the MPBL Lakan Cup last season, leading the Family’s Brand Sardines to the Southern Division semifinals. 

Pasaol said he’ll consult Bounty Agro Ventures Inc. (BAVI) president Ronald Mascariñas and marketing head Mel Macasaquit on what to do. Even as the assumption is the Tokyo Olympics will push through, there is no certainty. Pasaol said he’d like to continue playing for Zamboanga in the MPBL but it was recently announced that the 2020-21 season is cancelled and the next campaign will start in June. There are plans to reopen the Chooks To Go 3x3 league before the year ends and Pasaol said playing in the tournament is a perfect warm-up for the Olympic qualifiers.

Mascariñas assured Pasaol that BAVI is committed to pay the salaries of the Chooks To Go 3x3 national team pool, coaches and staff and to support the MPBL. “We at BAVI met the difficult challenges of the pandemic not by retreating but by advancing and expanding, proving the old adage that the best defense is still a good offense,” he said. Macasaquit said Chooks To Go will not get in Pasaol’s way if he chooses to join the PBA draft. “It’s the player’s decision,” he said. “We will support whatever Alvin decides is best for his career.”

Pasaol said he will also consult SBP executive director Sonny Barrios and PBA commissioner Willie Marcial before making up his mind. His concern is if he applies for the draft, he will ask for a leave to play in the Olympic qualifiers and if the Philippines makes it, in the Tokyo Games during the season. What he hopes to avoid is a ban from the PBA because it’s his dream to join the pro league.

Pasaol, who scored 49 points for UE in a 2017 UAAP game against La Salle, said 3x3 is completely different from 5x5. “Iba ang conditioning sa 3x3, iba ang physicality,” he said. Pasaol has proved himself capable of playing at a high level in both games. “Handa na ako sa PBA,” the 6-3 combo guard from Davao City said. “Naglaro ako ng three conferences sa D-League, kasama ko mga veterans sa Marinero at mga bata sa Petron-Letran bilang import nila. May mga nagsasabi na kahawig daw ang laro ko kina Noli (Locsin) at Jawo (Sonny Jaworski). ‘Di ko iniintindi ‘yun. Basta laro lang ako. Pinakita ko sa UE na maski na kulang kami sa tao, pukpok pa rin at walang sukuan sa laban.”