SBP to pick 3 from PBA Gilas draft

MANILA, Philippines — The special round for Gilas Pilipinas in the coming PBA Rookie Draft will be short and sweet.

This as the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas looks to pick only three aspirants from the talent-rich pool in the March 14 exercise to join the Gilas pool for this year.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial has already received the list of national team prospects but deferred to the SBP in announcing the names.

Filipino-American Jordan Heading, NU big man Tzaddy Rangel and UP guard Jaydee Tungcab loom as the SBP's choices.

The Season 46 picks will join the five previous draftees from the 2019 draft – Isaac Go, Rey Suerte, Matt and Mike Nieto and Allyn Bulanadi – in full-time Gilas training.

Terrafirma owns the right for the No. 1 pick in the special draft. NorthPort and NLEX are the only other clubs that will participate in the Gilas round.

The eight draftees, meanwhile, will form the core if the SBP accepts the PBA’s invitation to field Gilas as a guest team in the Philippine Cup tentatively set for April. Marcial said the Nationals may add collegiate stars like naturalization prospect Angelo Kouame to complete their roster in their PBA campaign.

There’s also the possibility the Gilas draftees will be loaned to their mother PBA clubs after their All-Filipino stint.