Draft list fills up as deadline nears

MANILA, Philippines - The draft list is now up to 46 applicants, including 15 Fil-foreigners, and it’s likely the cast will reach 50 when the Aug. 13 deadline falls as the PBA prepares for the rookie lottery at Robinson’s Manila on Aug. 24.

Gilas cadet players Kevin Alas, Garvo Lanete, Ronald Pascual, Matt Ganuelas and Jake Pascual are not in the list but a source said the other day at least two of the N-Lex Road Warriors may join the draft. Ronald Pascual, 26, was singled out as almost a sure bet to apply as the former San Sebastian standout had originally filed for the 2012 draft but withdrew to stay in the Gilas cadets pool. Pascual’s varsity teammates Calvin Abueva and Ian Sangalang are now playing in the PBA.

The five N-Lex players will meet with team officials this week to decide what to do. The source said N-Lex, which recently acquired the Air21 franchise, has three first round picks in next year’s draft and would be in a position to recruit some of the Road Warriors if they hold out. Meralco and Talk ‘N’ Text own a first round pick each next year so that the three MVP Group teams would have a total of five of the 12 slots.

In this year’s draft, N-Lex has the fourth overall pick but neither Meralco nor Talk ‘N’ Text will choose in the first round. Meralco and N-Lex won’t pick in the second round where the Texters own the eighth slot. So it’s slim pickings for the MVP Group in the coming draft compared to what looms next year.

WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao, 35, is the oldest draft applicant. But he isn’t the shortest or the lightest. Pacquiao stands 5-6 1/2, a half-inch taller than the shortest draft candidate Jeff Montemayor of Jose Rizal University. He weighs in at the welterweight limit of 147 but Technological University of the Philippines guard Allan Tria is only 135. Pacquiao, however, is the most recognizable name among the 46 applicants and will no doubt be the star of the draft show. He is expected to be named by Kia Motors with the 11th overall slot in the first round.

Pacquiao’s first cousin Rene, 27, also applied for the draft. The 6-5 forward from Southwestern University has played for Hog’s Breath in the PBA D-League. Some notable locals in the draft list are Jericho Cruz and Rodney Brondial of Adamson, Clark Bautista of UST, Ralf Olivares of UE, Jovet Mendoza of La Salle and Gab Banal of Mapua. Additions may come from the NCAA which allows active players to join the PBA draft but will be permitted to turn pro only after the collegiate season ends. The UAAP prohibits an active player to enter the draft even if he is graduating.

There is speculation that former NU star Bobby Ray Parks may join the draft at the last minute. He left the country to showcase his skills in US camps after the last PBA D-League conference and was even invited to train twice with the Los Angeles Lakers. Parks is hoping to play in the NBA D-League preparatory to applying for the NBA draft but while that’s not a sure alternative, he is guaranteed to be a high pick in the PBA lottery if he applies on or before Aug. 13.

N-Lex PBA D-League coach Boyet Fernandez, now fully concentrated in calling the shots for San Beda College in the NCAA, said he’s not aware of what decision the prized Road Warriors will make in relation to the draft. “The last time we all talked when we were in Hong Kong, I was under the impression that they were all applying for the draft,” said Fernandez referring to Alas, Lanete, Ganuelas and the Pascuals. “Maybe, they’ll wait until the last day. I don’t really know. At the moment, my focus is strictly San Beda.”

Two Road Warriors are throwing their hat in the draft derby for sure, former Bedans Kyle Pascual and Rome de la Rosa who are both listed as Fil-foreigners. Pascual, 24, and De la Rosa, 23, were born in California. Two other Bedan Fil-foreigners are applying in the draft, twins David and Anthony Semerad who were born in Australia. The fifth Bedan in the draft list is six-foot, 25-year-old guard Jess Villahermosa.

Like San Beda, Adamson has five players in the draft – Cruz, 23, Vincent Importante, 26, Alan Santos, 25, Roider Cabrera, 23 and Brondial, 23. San Sebastian’s draft candidates are Jonathan Semira, 27, Raymond Alcasabas, 26, and Michael Juico, 24. No official sizing has been made by the PBA but based on the data submitted by players, the tallest are Andrew Avillanoza of the University of the Visayas and Technological Institute of the Philippines’ Jefferson Murillo who both claim to be 6-6.

Consensus first overall pick Stanley Pringle of Penn State may or may not push through with his application for the draft. He is reportedly asking for a salary of $20,000 a month which is out of the question considering that the rookie cap is P150,000 and the veteran limit is P420,000. If Pringle does not agree to play under the PBA’s salary cap rule for rookies, he forfeits his chance to join the pro league this season. If Pringle doesn’t make himself available for the draft, Fil-Am guard Chris Banchero of Seattle Pacific University will likely take his place as the No. 1 overall pick.