The PBA set a deadline of last Wednesday for players applying to join the Season 46 draft on March 14 and 97 signed up to mark the biggest number of rookie aspirants in the league’s history, surpassing the previous high of 91 in 2014. One of the reasons for the spike was the scarcity of jobs and playing opportunities in this pandemic. In the PBA, players are assured of a salary with benefits once contracted and a chance to see action since the IATF has allowed only pros to practice and play competitive basketball. Here’s a breakdown of the draft by the numbers.
31 – Fil-foreigners who registered, including two born in Australia (James Laput, Jordan Heading), three from Canada (Taylor Browne, John Gulfo, Cedric Pelayo), one from Libya (Seraj Elmejrab), one from Guam (Ezra Ocampo) and one from Greece (Will Navarro who was born in Athens but never became a naturalized Greek as his OFW parents retained their Filipino citizenship). Excluded from this list are three Fil-foreigners who were born in the Philippines: Nick Demusis, Max Hentschel and Ken Holmquist.
18 – Fil-foreigners who lack the required Bureau of Immigration certification and Department of Justice confirmation to support their Philippine passports. PBA commissioner Willie Marcial has extended the contestability period for Fil-foreign applicants to submit the mandatory documents to March 5. The PBA will release a list of eligible Fil-foreigners on March 9. Among those with lacking papers are Jason Brickman, Brandon Rosser, Jerrick Ahanmisi, Jeremiah Gray, Tyrus Hill, Taylor Statham and Alec Stockton. Rosser’s brother Matt and Ahanmisi’s brother Maverick are playing in the PBA as Fil-foreigners.
2 – brothers in the roster of applicants: Loren and Luis Brill III, sons of former San Beda player and 1982 Philippine Asian Youth champion skipper Louie Brill. Loren, 24, played sparingly at Cal State Fullerton (one year, four games) and Old Dominion University (two years, 15 total games) while Luis III, 26, was in the NCAA D-2 roster of Wheeling Jesuit University for two seasons but never played. Luis III was on the Philippine SEABA U16 title team and suited up in the PBA D-League.
7 – applicants from La Salle: Hill, Jamie Malonzo, Aljun Melecio, Laput, Santi Santillan, Josh Torralba and Andrei Caracut. Five hopefuls are from San Beda, FEU and UE each. Jun Bonsubre, Kenneth Mocon (Team B, Javee’s older brother), Calvin Oftana, Jomari Presbitero and Matthew Kyle Sanchez are from San Beda. Kim Bayquin, Jeson Delfinado, Holmquist, Joel Lee Yu and Stockton are from FEU. Rey Mark Acuno, Ronnie de Leon, Mark Olayon, Alvin Pasaol and Philip Manalang are from UE. Four are from Ateneo: Anton Asistio, Navarro, Jay Javelosa and Jerie Pingoy (later moved to Adamson).
6-10 – the tallest is Laput while 5-5 Christian Cayobit of the University of Cebu is the shortest. Laput is also the heaviest at 245 pounds. The lightest is 5-7 John Zarco who weighs 138.
10 – players who are 30 and over: Richard Albo, 35, Bryan Daguplo, 33, Dhon Reverente, 31, Dadjilul Abubakar, 31, Marvin Moraga, 31, R. J. Argamino, 30, Gregory Flor, 30, Terrence Tumalip, 30, Michael Tobias, 30 and Cayobit, 30.
16 – players who are 23 and under: Ahanmisi, 23, Joseph Alcantara, 22, Luis Abaca, 23, Reymar Caduyac, 23, Chris Cancio, 22, Hentschel, 22, R. K. Ilagan, 23, Manalang, 23, Jun Manzo, 23, Melecio, 22, Navarro, 23, Ocampo, 22, Michael Panolino, 22, Stockton, 22, Jaydee Tungcab, 23 and Zarco, 23.
14 – players who are listed 6-6 and over: 6-7 Ben Adamos, 6-7 Acuno, 6-6 De Leon, 6-8 Elmejrab, 6-7 Rosser, 6-6 Gray, 6-8 Holmquist, 6-6 Malonzo, 6-6 Larry Muyang, 6-6 Navarro, 6-10 Laput, 6-7 Tzaldy Rangel, 6-8 Troy Rike and 6-6 Statham. There are 40 players who are 6-0 and under.
4 – players who were born in the Philippines and played basketball overseas. Demusis, 29, was born in Leyte and played at Whittier College, a D-3 California school that produced Hugh Fenderson who was a PBA import agent in the 1980s. Hentschel was born in Makati and suited up for Apollo Amsterdam. Christian Rivera, 27, was born in Manila and averaged 9.7 points in 91 total games over four seasons at Bryn Athyn College, a D-3 school in Pennsylvania. Holmquist, 26, was born in Digos City and played for Club Norway.