Draft welcomes overseas players

There are 16 PBA draft eligibles now playing in Japan and Korea, mostly deserving to be a first round pick. The next draft is on Jan. 17 and it’s open to overseas players who’ve never applied before. There was a previous rule stipulating a three-year ban for draft eligibles who decide to skip and play abroad instead. The sit-out has been scrapped so the door is now wide open for overseas players.

However, it’s unlikely that overseas players will enter the draft unless they’re cut from their teams or there is a mutual agreement to disengage. Nobody can blame overseas players for staying put. The pay is high and contract terms are attractive, particularly living conditions. But once they feel it’s time to go home, the draft will be waiting.

Juan Gomez de Liaño, RJ Abarrientos and Christian David are among overseas players who returned to join the draft. JGDL played in Korea, Japan and Lithuania before finding a home in PBA. Abarrientos went to Korea and Japan then entered PBA. David was signed to a contract in Korea but was injured and later, applied for the draft. JD Cagulangan and Jake Figueroa left Korea this season and will join the coming draft.

The draft eligibles in Japan are 6-4 Dwight Ramos, 28, 6-8 Mike Phillips, 24, 7-3 Kai Sotto, 24, 6-4 Francis Lopez, 23, 6-10 AJ Edu, 26, 6-2 Thirdy Ravena, 29, 6-9 Matthew Aquino, 30 and 6-10 Quentin Millora-Brown, 26. In Korea, they’re 6-4 Kevin Quiambao, 25, 6-2 Rhenz Abando, 28, 6-8 Carl Tamayo, 25, 5-11 Gerry Abadiano, 25, 5-9 SJ Belangel, 27, 6-3 Justin Gutang, 29, 6-0 Migs Oczon, 26 and 6-0 Ethan Alvano, 30.

PBA veterans who leave the league to play overseas with an outstanding offer to renew an expired contract may come back after three years. This rule applies to Jamie Malonzo and William Navarro. Arvin Tolentino, whose rights are now with Magnolia, moved to Korea before the rule was ratified so may return at his option. Navarro was cut in Korea last May and appealed to re-join PBA but was turned down. Malonzo is serving his sit-out. Other PBA veterans playing abroad are Kiefer Ravena, Bobby Ray Parks, Roosevelt Adams and Matthew Wright. Since they’ve been playing abroad for at least three years, the route back to PBA is a possibility.

An overseas player who’s ripe for the draft is Alvano, a Korean league MVP in 2024 and a Jones Cup mythical five pick this year. Before turning pro, he played at Eastern Michigan and California State at San Marcos. In 2018-19, Alvano was on the Alab Pilipinas squad that Jimmy Alapag coached. He went on to play in Bangkok and Germany before winding up in Korea. Last season, he averaged 17.8 points, 4.2 rebounds. 6.8 assists and two steals in 57 games with Wonju DB.