PHOTO: PBA Images
A FEW PBA teams admitted the uncertainty of the eligibility of Fil-foreigners has also prevented them from inviting to workouts certain draft applicants who they would want to take a closer look at.
With the PBA cancelling the draft combine this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, teams will only get an opportunity to evaluate the draft applicants through invites to practice and workouts.
Some teams, however, said they will only start inviting applicants once the final list is already out. Fil-foreign players have until March 5 to submit their requirements to the PBA office.
“We are in the same boat as everyone else, waiting for that final list to be revealed on March 5 so that we can kinda have a guess of what other teams ahead of us might possibly do,” said Rain or Shine coach Chris Gavina.
Recommended Videos Jason s biggest assets to a PBA team are his leadership and his experience. He does such a great job of getting his teammates in positions on the court where they can be successful. He s one of the best passers I ve seen at the pro level, he said, especially with Brickman dishing out a league-best 9.1 assists this past campaign and leading the league in dimes in three of the last five seasons.
Alapag admitted that he was surprised how good of a scorer the 5-foot-10 guard is, a facet of Brickman s game which is often overshadowed by his court vision and precise passing game.
WILL Justine Baltazar beat the deadline of applications for the PBA Rookie Draft?
That s the question that will be answered as the pro league closes its doors for entrants to the annual rookie proceedings on Wednesday.
It has been over a month since the PBA started accepting application forms for aspirants as it welcomes fresh talent come the March 14 event.
Still, Baltazar, the promising 6-foot-8 Kapampangan center from La Salle has yet to put his name in the list.
There are scouts and coaches who see the Mabalacat native getting picked first overall, although the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is poised to tap him in the special Gilas round, ensuring that the 23-year-old will continue to play for the national team and be part of its youthful core before he formally begins his PBA career.