With no clear signal from CHED as to when actual individual workouts may resume, more and more eligible varsity players are considering to declare for the PBA draft on March 14. The deadline to apply for the draft is on Jan. 27 so collegiate players who are 22 or over have three weeks to decide whether or not to rescind their varsity eligibility. A player who is under 22 but has finished his collegiate education may also join the draft.
Both the UAAP and NCAA suspended their seasons last year, leaving athletes without a competition to stay sharp. CHED has submitted guidelines for IATF approval to restart individual workouts under strict safety/health protocols but clearance remains pending. Besides, the guidelines are so strict and require re-engineering of gym facilities that some schools may not be inclined to agree to a restart. The proposed guidelines are only for individual workouts so you can imagine that the guidelines for body contact drills and the relaunch of competitions will be even more severe.
The NCAA is planning to reopen its season in March and the word is games will be held in a closed-circuit, semi-bubble over six weeks. It’s possible that eligible NCAA players may join the draft and still play out the collegiate season. In the UAAP’s case, a player who chooses to stay with the varsity will not be allowed to enter the draft. A UAAP player who joins the draft relinquishes his eligibility as a student-athlete. The UAAP intends to restart its 83rd season in September but that’s still up in the air. The restart will depend on the prevailing health situation and the availability of a COVID-19 vaccine. The uncertainty is causing a lot of anxiety and driving players to consider turning pro.
A PBA source yesterday said several collegiate players have inquired about the coming draft. It’s understandable why. Some varsity players, who are ripe for the pros, feel staying idle for one or two years takes away from the potential to make a living as athletes in their prime. In the PBA, a rookie salary is a maximum of P200,000 and a minimum of P70,000 a month. The maximum for a second season is P250,000.
Once a player is drafted, the drafting team has five working days within which to make an offer. So a rookie may start earning a salary within five days from March 14. If the team and player fail to reach an agreement on a contract, the commissioner will step in to arbitrate.
At the moment, varsity players who have declared for the draft with at least a year of collegiate eligibility left include Adamson’s Jerrick Ahanmisi, Letran’s Larry Muyang and La Salle’s Tyrus Hill. UP’s Juan Gomez de Liaño took out a Special Guest License from GAB to play in the recent Chooks To Go 3x3 league and may have lost his varsity eligibility because the UAAP does not recognize exemptions to participate in a pro competition. If the UAAP sticks to its ruling, De Liaño will be left with no option but to enter the draft and may bring along older brother Javi. San Beda’s Calvin Oftana is also rumored to be mulling a jump to the pros with a year of eligibility to go with the Red Lions.
The list of players lining up for the draft is growing by the day and it looks like a deep lineup even if the first five players are seconded to Gilas. Thirdy Ravena may throw his hat in the derby to make it more interesting. So far, those who’ve declared for the draft include Jaime Malonzo, Jason Brickman, Alvin Pasaol, Santi Santillan, Troy Rike, Jeremiah Gray, Andrei Caracut, Andre Paras, Brandon Rosser, James Laput, Jun Bonsubre, Philip Manalang, Ben Adamos, Tzaddy Rangel, Jordan Heading, Anton Asistio, Franky Johnson and Joshua Torralba.