36 beat draft deadline, including 7 Gilas cagers
A total of 36 players, including seven from Smart Gilas Pilipinas, comprise the list of aspirants who have submitted their applications for the 2011 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) draft.
Gilas stalwarts Dylan Ababou, Jason Ballesteros, Mac Baracael Mark Barroca, JV Casio, Marcio Lassiter and Chris Lutz lead this year's draft prospects, based on a list provided by the PBA Media Bureau shortly after the close of office hours earlier today, which happens to be the deadline for submitting applications.
A final list will be furnished once the Commissioner's Office screens all requirements submitted. In the meantime, most of the prospects are expected to show up at the rookie camp on August 23 at Club 650 in Libis. The draft will be held on August 28 at Robinsons Place Ermita.
Prospects have until August 26 to pull out, and this early Smart Gilas coaches are hoping they can convince some of their players to reconsider. In particular, the coaches are hoping Casio, Lassiter and Lutz have a change of heart.
Notably missing in the list is Smart Gilas skipper Chris Tiu, the only eligible national player who didn't apply. In a message posted by brother Charles online, Chris said:
"After much prayer and consultation with family and friends, I have decided not to take part in the PBA draft this year. My dream has always been to represent our flag and country by competing in the various international tournaments. Should management wish to invite me, it would be my privilege to continue on with the Gilas national team program. Thank you for the support."
It's shaping up to be a guard-heavy draft, with only four pure centers available. Aside from the national players, other top prospects expected to be picked include University of the East's Paul Lee and James Martinez, Ateneo's Eric Salamat, Far Eastern University's Reil Cervantes, and San Sebastian College's Pamboy Raymundo. Of these players, only Cervantes is a big man.
Other notable players who joined include UE's Ken Acibar, Adamson's Marc Agustin, San Sebastian's Gilbert Bulawan, Jose Rizal's Mark Cagoco, La Salle's Brian Ilad, Arellano's Gerald Lapus, UST's Allein Maliksi, UE's Ezer Rosopa, and UP's Magi Sison and Paul Sorongon.
Sison is the tallest prospect at six-seven, followed by Ballesteros at six-six. Five cagers are listed at six-five, namely Ilad, Rosopa, Fil-Am John Chamberlin of Technological Institute of the Philippines, Ariel Mepana of the University of the Visayas, and Christopher Pestano of George Brown College in Toronto, Canada.
Aside from Chamberlin and Pestano, the other Fil-foreigners in the pool include Fellimon Fortiz Fernandez of Orange Coast College-Fullerton, Marvin Graebel of Stauffenberg Business School in Germany, Philip John Medenilla of Oswego University in New York, and Raymond Montaniel of York University in Toronto.
The oldest applicant is five-nine Christopher Concepcion of St. Francis of Assisi, who will turn 30 in November. The youngest is Acibar, who is only 21.
The Powerade Tigers are picking first in the draft. A source intimated last month that the team would pick Tiu first overall if he applied, which now means team management will have to re-evaluate their options. Choosing second will be the Air21 Express, followed by the Meralco Bolts, the Rain or Shine Elastopainters, the B-Meg Llamados, and the Alaska Aces. The seventh and eighth picks are still to be determined. If Petron wins the Governors Cup, the Blaze Boosters will go eighth and Barako Bull seventh. If Talk 'N Text wins, Barako Bull will pick eighth. Barangay Ginebra chooses ninth while TNT will pick tenth and last.
