4 top picks out of PBA draft

The Philippine Basketball Association lost four potential star players for its coming 2002 draft, including MBA ace Romel Adducul whom Airfreight 2100/FedEx was eyeing to make the cornerstone of its maiden campaign in the league.

Adducul and three top Fil-Ams failed to submit the required documents to the PBA and are ineligible for the draft set Sunday at the Glorietta in Makati.

Adducul, who could’ve been the year’s top pick, failed to get his release papers from the MBA where he has a live contract with LBC Batangas, while Chris Clay, Jeffrey Flowers and Mike Cortez were not able to obtain certificate of recognition of their Filipino citizenship from the Department of Justice in time for the deadline set by the PBA Commissioner’s Office.

Twelve other Fil-Ams failed to beat the deadline for submission of documents.

At presstime, PBA commissioner Jun Bernardino and his staff trying to complete the final list which they will announce today.

Meanwhile, Adducul and agent Ed Ponceja were at the Airfreight/FedEx office, still hoping they will get the blessing of MBA officials for the talented 6-foot-6 cager’s transfer to the PBA.

Ponceja called the PBA office earlier at 3 p.m., informing league officials he would forward the release papers before the 5 p.m. deadline. They missed the deadline.

Actually, only four Fil-Ams beat the deadline. These were Rafi Reavis, Sunny Boy Margate, Kenneth Gumpenberger and Jason Henkey.

Excluded from the pool like Clay, Flowers and Cortez were Clifton Claybrooks, Fortunate Payne, Jim Alapag, Francis Machica, William Villa, Danny Mosley, Jerrico Allen, Richard Hardine, Francis Rauschmayer, Tom Aceno, Leodito Yanogacio Jr. and Kalani Ferreria.

Other top names who made it to the draft are Chris Calaguio, Renren Ritualo, Yancy de Ocampo, Omanzie Rodriguez, Chito Victolero and Leonido Avenido.

Getting release papers from the MBA are Rensy Bajar, Chris de Jesus, Sonny Manucat, Bernard de Guia, Paulo Malonzo, Homer Se, Francis Aquino, Dexter Racho, Richard Melencio, Christian Nicdao, Junel Mendiola, Wilfredo Mejia, Arnel Manalac, Jerome Barbosa and Danilo Capobres.

Released by the PBL were Edwin Bacani, Gilbert Malabanan, Jason Misolas, Miguel Noble, Chester Tolomia, Francis Sanz, Eugene Tan, Rainier Sison, Alvin Castro, Edrick Ferrer, Brandon Sison, Aristeo Dimaunahan, Gilbert Lao, Jacques Gottenbos, Celino Cruz and Frederick Canlas.

According to a reliable source, Cortez’s application for the DOJ confirmation was denied.

Clay and Flowers are out of the PBA draft pool but not necessarily out of the candidates pool for the national team.

"Their DOJ papers are coming out in the next few weeks. Hindi na lang namin inapura dahil hindi rin naman namin sila makukuha sa draft. Hiningi sila ni (PBA) commissioner Jun Bernardino para sa national pool," said Airfreight/FedEx top official Lito Alvarez.

Incidentally, Clay and Flowers both played for the FedEx Laguna Lakers in the MBA.

Initially, Alvarez was thinking of enlisting Clay as import in the 2002 PBA season opening conference. Bernardino, however, informed the FedEx president that Clay will be likely tapped for the RP candidates pool.